Sport
17 February, 2023
Tigers set for upset, Blue Panthers crash
Horsham Cricket Association has thrown up one of its more tantalising days of A Grade cricket after day one of round 14 took place on Saturday. The penultimate round of the home and away season has thrown up what could be the upset of the season...
Horsham Cricket Association has thrown up one of its more tantalising days of A Grade cricket after day one of round 14 took place on Saturday.
The penultimate round of the home and away season has thrown up what could be the upset of the season with Jung Tigers in control of its match against ladder leader West Wimmera Warriors, while a batting collapse at City Oval has Rup-Minyip in dire straits against Bullants.
On their home turf at Davis Park, the Warriors returned to action after a two week bye and were met by a fired up Angus Adams who helped tear through the batting line-up to claim a five-wicket bag and dismiss the home team for a modest 103 in 35.3 overs.
Adams bowled Jung Tigers into a strong position with figures of 5-12 off 8.3 overs and routed the middle and lower order as the Warriors lost their last five wickets for 13 runs after working their way to a competitive 5-90.
Opening bat Brad Alexander top scored with 38, but only brother Nathan produced another double-figure score of 14 as the Warriors innings came to an end in the 36th over.
Adams’ lines was impeccable, as all the Jung bowlers, as Levi Mock finished with 2-18 off nine overs.
Jung’s reply saw not everything go their way but some hard working knocks formed vital partnerships as opener Connor Lawson made 18 and Adams made 14.
An unbeaten 42-run stand for the sixth wicket saw Jung finish the day just seven runs shy of its required target as Brett Jensz finished the day unbeaten on 32 and will resume tomorrow with skipper Tyler Puls unbeaten on six.
For the Warriors, Nathan Alexander claimed 2-41 and Jeremy Weeks finished with 2-17 off eight overs.
The match at City Oval saw Bullants dominate an undermanned Rup-Minyip line-up, having already claimed first innings points and on the verge of outright victory.
Winning the toss, Bullants put together a healthy total of 220 with Troy Dumesny posting a top score after a strong start from his top order team-mates.
A 53-run opening stand had the Bullants up and running with openers Jarred Combe, 23, and Shane Oakley, 44, teaming well and with strong contributions from Josh Beddison, 36, Tobey Anson, 22, and skipper Matt Combe, 19, a final total of 220 was compiled in 51.4 overs.
Damiano Boddi enjoyed a good day with the ball for the Blue Panthers and finished with impressive figures of 6-42 off 12 overs.
Rup-Minyip, after a couple of strong displays with the bat in recent weeks, produced one of their worst displays as they were routed for just 22 in 10.1 overs.
Batting one man short, the Blue Panthers slumped to 5-10 before wickets continued to tumble under the accurate pressure of Matt Combe who totally destroyed the batting card.
Combe started at the top and worked his way through the batting line-up to finish with incomparable figures of 8-11 off 5.1 overs in one of his best displays with the ball.
Taking the crease for a second innings, Rup-Minyip finished the day at 1-20 as Combe added a ninth wicket to his tally.
Skipper Jamie Byrne, 17, and Lachie Weidemann, one, will resume at the wicket tomorrow.
Day one of B Grade competition saw ladder leader Lubeck Murtoa set for a tense battle with top five aspirant Colts who put together a healthy total of 192.
Second-placed Horsham Saints will defend a total of 149 against Rup-Minyip in a battle for third position, while fourth-placed Laharum will defend 128 runs in their battle with Bullants.
At the Dimboola Reserve, Blackheath-Dimboola is just one wicket away from first innings points after posting a healthy 5-154 and have Jung Tigers in trouble at 9-69 in reply.
Colts 192 (Josh Colbert 59, Luke Miller 26; Nick Ballagh 4-46) v Lubeck-Murtoa.
Horsham Saints 149 (Gary Davidson 57, Ben Sawyer 34; Leigh Funcke 3-27) v Rup-Minyip.
Bullants 6-128 (Ben Anson 54no, Nathan Hughes 22; Max Bunworth 3-22) v Laharum.
Blackheath-Dimboola 5-154 (Daniel Polack 75, Sam Leith 58no; Amrit BK 2-8) v Jung Tigers 9-69 (Prabath Bandara 32; Brenden Marrs 3-6).
C Grade’s round 12 of competition saw wins to ladder leader Homers, Blackheath-Dimboola, Horsham Saints, Quantong and Laharum with the battle for top four positions continuing to heat up with just one game separating positions two to six.
Homers 5-61 (Logan Millar 28no; Jordan Gurry 2-7, Glen Treverton 2-6) d West Wimmera Warriors 59 (Ash Dickinson 25; Peter Drummond 3-3, Ben Salter 2-6, James Officer 2-1).
Blackheath-Dimboola 9-239 (James Barry 60no, Steve Glover 37, Luke Hutchinson 32; Johnny Joseph 2-33, Zarli Knight 2-29, Frank Marklew 2-26) d Jung Tigers (Jackson Walsgott 60, Zarli Knight 28no; Isolbelle Schorback 6-30).
Hosham Saints 5-131 (Rod Kirkwood 50, David Pike 19no; Matt Downer 2-10) d Lubeck-Murtoa 9-127 (Darren Schultz 27, Seth Callaby 21, Jason Frost 19; Ben Sleep 5-14).
Quantong 3-109 (Peter Brand 39no, Tim Brand 26; Jaxon Crooks 2-35) d Colts 100 (David Wombwell 22, Mark McPhee 19; Stuart Jose 3-10).
Laharum 6-148 (Tristan March 50ret., Josh Hutchinson 32; Jett Munn 2-22) d Natimuk 7-143 (Jeremy Schmidt 53ret., Tyler Coutts 25; Daryl Scollary 2-8).