Bullants dominate on day one

The Noradjuha Tooloondo Bullants are positioned well after day one of round 12 following a dominant display against St Mary’s in the Horsham Cricket Association A grade competition on Saturday, February 7.

By Mackenzie Book

Josh Colbert looks to go on the front foot for the Colts against Swifts-Great Western. Colbert top scored for the Colts with 38 as the side reached 150. SGW finished day one at 4/37 in reply. Photo by ROBIN WEBB.

Other fixtures from the round remain in the balance ahead of day two on Saturday, February 14.

At City Oval, St Mary’s elected to bat and despite some encouraging starts from Daniel Westerland (15) and Colby Schmidt (13), the Bullants tore through the middle order to have the visitors 8/43.

Late-innings knocks from Aiden Keys (12 not out) and Bailey Watts helped St Mary’s to 67 before they were bowled out.

Jordan McDonald (3/8) and Matthew Combe each took three wickets for the Bullants, while Angus Slatter had 2/4.

Knocks of 62 from Jason Harris and 30 from Matthew Combe saw the Bullants easily take first-innings points, before skipper Tony Caccaviello smashed four sixes on his way to 49 runs from just 21 balls.

The Bullants declared at 5/185 and Colby Schmidt was the pick of the bowlers for St Mary’s with figures of 4/37.

After an early wicket, a 46-run partnership between Sean Smith (27) and Colby Schmidt (15 not out) got St Mary’s back on track before some late wickets saw the visitors end the day at 3/51.

Bullants player Tim Crick said the team looked to score quickly once they passed St Mary’s first innings total to give themselves the best chance of maximum points on day two.

“We were first focused on getting that target,” Crick said.

“Sometimes you can look a bit too far ahead, so the main thing was to make that target first, and then once we got the target, try and get as many runs on the board as quickly as we could, and then give ourselves a few overs to make some inroads for next week.”

At Dudley Cornell Park, the Colts elected to bat first against Swifts-Great Western, with Josh Colbert (38), Luke Deutscher (36) and Dylan Arnott (22) making valuable contributions before the side was dismissed for 150.

Matt Heffer was impressive for the Combine with figures of 6/33, while Ethan Marrow had 3/33.

In response, SGW were immediately on the back foot after Josh Colbert dismissed Ethan Marrow in the first over.

The Colts maintained the pressure until stumps, claiming the key wickets of Aiden Graveson and Zac Marrow to have SGW at 4/37.

Jay Couch led the Colts bowling effort on day one with 2/6.

It was a low-scoring affair on day one at Brim Recreation Reserve in the game between Brim KSH and West Wimmera.

The home side elected to bat first, but were under instant pressure from early wickets to Josh Lees.

Lachlan McGinnis (35), Sandon Schultz (18) and Connor McGinniss (13) made vital contributions to get the Eagles to 5/80 before the Warriors quickly finished the tail to have Brim KSH bowled out for 85.

Lees led the way with the ball with 5/10 from 12 overs, while Nathan Alexander had 2/11 from his 11 overs.

After Brad Alexander (27) got the Warriors going early, the Eagles had the visitors in trouble at 3/32, before Jeremy Weeks (15 not out) and Nathan Alexander (8 not out) helped West Wimmera finish the day at 3/58, 27 behind the Eagles’ first innings total.

At Murtoa Recreation Reserve, the Tigers elected to bat against Lubeck Murtoa, and were ultimately bowled out for 136 in the 51st over.

Tyler Puls (26), Ricci Marks (26) and Adam Carter (19) provided resistance in the middle order.

For the Mudlarks, Xavier Shevlin finished with 4/38, while Nic Ballagh (2/25), Cameron Newell (2/31) and Jarvis Mitchell (2/32) all claimed two wickets each.

Tyler Puls (2/14) then struck early in Lubeck Murtoa’s innings, before Joshua Hedt (22 not out) and Cameron Newell (7 not out) helped the Mudlarks reach 2/49 at stumps.

At Jeffcott Oval, the home side elected to bat against Laharum, where Cooper Anderson was quickly run out by Jackson Hoffman in the opening over.

But Donald Jeffcott’s top order of Koby Westerland (40), Dylan Ruurds (29) and Eddie Landwehr (23) steadily built the team’s innings, before Lachlan Jones top scored with 83 to steer the side to 238.

Spinner Chaminda Gamage finished with 4/34 for the Demons, while Jackson Hoffman (2/34) and Joel Pymer (2/57) each claimed two wickets.

Monty Wynne and Max Bunworth survived one over late in the day as Laharum will resume day two at 0/4.

West Wimmera's Josh Lees steams in to bowl against Brim KSH. The Warriors' paceman finished with 5/10 as he helped his side dismiss Brim KSH for 85. West Wimmera were 3/58 in reply at stumps on day one.