Cricket
5 December, 2025
Batsmen in hot seat for day two
Round seven of the Horsham Cricket Association A grade competition continues this Saturday, December 5, with several teams requiring key innings with the bat to claim first innings points.
The Bullants will rely on their incumbent batsmen and the lower order when they resume day two at 5/28 at Brim Recreation Reserve.
Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills (Brim KSH) were bowled out by the Bullants for 109, but quickly swung the game in their favour as they had the visitors 5/25 after 15 overs.
Phoenix Hopper (3 not out) and Tim Crick (0 not out) survived till stumps on day one and will hope to get the Bullants on the front foot for a chance at first innings points.
The Bullants still have danger men Matthew Combe and Jason Harris to bat, but Lachlan McGinniss and the Brim KSH bowling unit look primed to contain them.
At City Oval, the Colts find themselves in a vulnerable position as they look to surpass the Tigers’ 162.
Jaxon Crooks (8 not out) and Kane Tutchell (0 not out) will return to the crease for the Colts at 4/25.
The Colts also still have Logan Millar and Luke Duetscher to come, who have chipped in with the bat on numerous occasions so far this season.
But the Tigers will commence day two as favourites, where bowlers like Ricci Marks (currently 1/5) will hope to continue their impressive starts with the ball.
St Mary’s will look for an immediate breakthrough when they resume their clash against Donald Jeffcott at Jeffcott Oval.
The visitors made 113 with the bat, and despite the early wicket of Jake Needs, it has been all Donald Jeffcott in the second innings as they start day two at 1/86.
After a string of starts early in the season, Cooper Anderson dominated at the end of day one and will commence at 63 not out.
As well as Dylan Ruurds (19 not out), the home side has plenty of batting to come, meaning key bowlers like Brodie Dennes and Aiden Keys will need to strike early for St Mary’s.
At Sunnyside Recreation Reserve, Laharum will resume its innings at 5/61, having bowled out Lubeck Murtoa for 91.
The in-form Jason Kannar is currently 18 not out, and with fellow allrounder Jackson Hoffman still to come, the Demons will be optimistic they can claim first innings points.
But Lubeck Murtoa have plenty of capable bowlers to challenge Laharum, including Blake Turner and Cameron Newell, who each finished day one with figures of 2/19.
With day one of the clash between Swifts-Great Western and West Wimmera not taking place, the game will revert to a 40 over one-dayer at Central Park in Stawell.
B grade will also resume on day two of their round seven clashes.
At Goff Letts Oval in Donald, the Rup-Minyip Panthers will resume at 1/16 as they aim to chase down Donald Jeffcott’s first innings score of 194.
At Dudley Cornell Park, the Horsham Saints will look to get a good start as they enter the second day at 0/6, having bowled out the Colts for 129.
At Dimboola Road Oval, the Tigers finished day one at 9/217 against West Wimmera.
With weather preventing play on day one, the Bullants and Swifts-Great Western will play at Noradjuha Recreation Reserve, while St Mary’s and Brim KSH commence their local derby at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal.
C grade starts round eight of their one-day competition, where one of the premier games sees third-placed Laharum host the fourth-placed Homers at Cameron Oval.
Elsewhere, Natimuk hosts Blackheath Dimboola at Natimuk Showgrounds, Swifts-Great Western hosts the Tigers at Great Western Recreation Reserve, Lubeck Murtoa travels to Moyston Recreation Reserve to go against Rhymney Moyston, and Halls Gap play Quantong at Halls Gap Recreation Reserve.