Cricket
17 March, 2025
Bullants claim fairytale premiership
After scraping into the finals by the skin of their teeth, the Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants have claimed a remarkable premiership, defeating the Horsham Tigers by 10 wickets in the Horsham Cricket Association's B-Grade two-day grand final.
The Tigers won the toss, batted, and got off to a great start through Scott Marks and Callum Jackson, with the pair recording a 41-run opening stand before departing within six runs of each other.
Heath Lang trapped Scott Marks for 20 leg before, and John Heard bowled Callum Jackson shortly after for 20, with the Tigers falling to 2/47.
Heard then picked up two quick wickets. He took the wicket of Janith Herath, who was caught by Tom Hair for five, and then had the dangerous Chris Eagle dismissed for five, caught by Riley Lane.
Riley Lane then got on the action with the ball, claiming the dangerous wicket of Nigel Binney for one, who was caught by Rosco Hair, to have the Tigers 5/59.
Heard then went on a rampage, claiming the next five wickets for 18 runs to bowl the Tigers out for 77 in the 40th over.
He finished with figures of 8/21 (13.3) which featured three maidens.
Jesse Brown and Kent Hair then went to the task with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 22 and 53 respectively to score 0/84 off 18 overs before both captains called the match, handing the Bullants a win against all odds.
The Bullants began the year with only three wins after the Christmas break, but they came into the finals on a three-game winning streak and dismantled the top team, the Rup/Minyip Panthers, in the semi-finals.
It was their first B-Grade premiership since their merger in 2010/2011 and John Heard said it was a terrific performance.
"We had to win every game and hope teams would lose," Heard said.
"Our win against the Colts after Christmas was with our backs to the wall, and the win against the Saints came out of nowhere.
"Our match against Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills, where we were 5/10, and had a good partnership from Angus Slatter and Rosco Hair to get us over the line, that got us into the finals."
"We found a way to win those matches, giving us confidence heading into the finals."
Heard said that only one person, Heath Lang, thought they would make the grand final in January.
"Heath always thought we were a chance stating that if he stayed in the team we would win the grand final," Heard said.
"At the end of the day, we played well in all disciplines. We bowled well, batted well, and took our catches; it was a fairytale ending.
"Half of our success came from the A-Grade side, which got a few players back and strengthened us."
As for his performance with the ball, Heard said he just bowled like usual.
"I bowled the same as the other times, and got zero wickets, so it was just one of those days where we took the catches and they missed the straight ones," Heard said.
"I have had a few seven-wicket hauls, but never an eight."