Cricket
2 March, 2025
Bullants into finals following tough win
The Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants are through to the Horsham Cricket Association A-grade finals following a tight 18-run win over Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills at Horsham City Oval on Saturday.
The Eagles resumed at 5/27 and made the Bullants work for their victory. Despite losing Isaac McPherson for eight, caught by Troy Dumesny off Jordan McDonald's bowling, Tim Bell, Lachlan McGinniss, Sandon Schultz and Matthew Crisp fought hard for the Eagles to bring them close to the total.
Bell formed a solid partnership with McGinniss before he fell for four off 23 balls. Jeremy Preston was also a rock, scoring seven off 43 balls, as Lachlan McGinniss made 35 (67) before Jason Harris caught him off the bowling of Tony Caccaviello.
Matthew Crisp and Sandon Schultz had a solid ninth wicket partnership when McGinniss fell. Crisp scored 16 (22) while Schultz remained unbeaten on 20 as the Eagles fell agonisingly close.
Tony Caccaviello was the star for the Bullants, doing the damage with the ball, taking 4/21 (9.3), which included four maidens.
The Bullants will now meet West Wimmera in the semi-finals next weekend after West Wimmera ended the season on top of the ladder, with a thumping 130-run win over the Colts at Dudley Cornell Reserve.
The Colts resumed the day at 1/14, and despite Logan Millar scoring 29 (49) and Josh Colbert, 52 (53), the target was too much for them to chase, finishing on 9/150.
Nathan Alexander continued his good form with the ball following his eight-wicket haul two weeks ago, in round 12, finishing with figures of 3/25 (13) with four maidens.
Jobe Dickinson continued his form from last week's grand final, where he took three wickets, by finishing with figures of 2/12 (6), hitting form at the right time of the season.
The Homers will play the Eagles next week with high confidence having defeated the Horsham Tigers outright at Sunnyside Recreation Reserve.
The Homers resumed their innings at 3/96, having bowled the Tigers out for 117. They cruised past that total and were bowled out for 163, with a lead of 46 runs.
Patrick Mills top-scored with 61 (81) with nine fours, while Dom Rose 3/32 (13) and Tyler Puls 3/28 (16) were the best bowlers for the Tigers.
Gibson Perry and Chaminda Gamage then stood up for the Homers, taking 3/20 (8) and 3/19 (5), respectively, as the Homers bowled the Tigers out for 74 off 26 overs.
Adam Carter top-scored for the Tigers with 17.
Needing 29 for victory, the Homers got there after seven overs, finishing at 1/32 with Gibson Perry and Monty Wynne unbeaten on 23 and six respectively.
Tyler Puls took the Tigers only wicket, claiming Patrick Mills for one, as he finished with 1/14 (3).
At Murtoa Recreation Reserve, Lubeck Murtoa nearly pulled off a massive win, falling 18 runs short against the Horsham Saints.
Having been set a target of 277, Lubeck Murtoa didn't die wondering, getting off to a blistering start through opener Thomas Barrand, and top-order players Shannon Reddie, Joshua Hedt, Finnian Delahunty.
Barrand made 91 off 170 balls, while Reddie 28, Hedt 21, Delahunty 37 batted around him.
When Barrand fell, the Mudlarks were 7/232 needing another 56 runs. Cameron Newell was set at the crease, and despite scoring 47 off 32 balls, the lower order found the Saints bowling too strong, eventually bowled out for 259 in the 73rd over.
The Saints' best bowlers were Jono Carroll 4/82 and Brock Hamerston 3/55 (21.1).
COLTS BIG WIN SECURES SECOND
The Colts have finished second on the ladder in the Horsham Cricket Association B-grade competition following a commanding victory over the Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park.
The Saints resumed at 0/2, chasing a total of 191 set by the Colts on day one. The Colts' bowling was relentless, led by Beau and Kevin Purchase, as they bowled the Saints out for 90 in the 39th over.
Kevin Purchase finished with figures of 3/8 (8) with four maidens, while Beau Purchase was the top wicket-taker with 4/18 (7) with one maiden. Alex Baker, 2/12 (3.1) also bowled well.
The Saints were led by Sarmad Saif at the top of the order scoring 29, while Cameron Pellissier contributed at the bottom of the order with 18.
The Colts will now play the Tigers in the semi-finals next weekend after the Tigers had a thrilling two-wicket win over Quantong at Quantong Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers resumed the day at 1/60, having bowled Quantong out for 204 on day one. Quantong started the day well, taking regular wickets to have the Tigers at 5/124.
The Tigers, through Scott Marks, however, had other ideas. Marks was the rock for the Tigers, finishing with an unbeaten 65, featuring ten fours, as they chased the total down in 45 overs.
Peter Brand 3/21 (5) and Jai Smith 3/94 (18) were the best bowlers for Quantong.
The Bullants will play league leaders Rupanyup/Minyip Panthers in the semi-finals following a win over Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills at Brim Recreation Reserve.
Seventeen wickets fell on day one and the Bullants resumed the day at 7/52, chasing 86. Due to the hot weather during the week, the pitch dried out, making it good for batting, and Tom Hair and Angus Slatter capitalised. Slatter scored 44, and Hair was unbeaten 37. The game ended when Mark Williams caught Slatter off the bowling of Trent Allen.
Connor McGinniss was the star with the ball for the Eagles, finishing with 5/24 (13) featuring two maidens.
DEMONS STORM TO MASSIVE WIN
Laharum defeated the Homers by eight wickets at the Laharum Sports and Community Centre in the final round of the Horsham Cricket Association's C-grade season.
There was plenty of action at Cameron Oval, as Laharum senior football coach Robbie Miller conducted his 24-hour run around the oval, raising funds for Bears of Hope.
The Homers won the toss and batted and Laharum restricted them to 8/128 off their 40 overs.
Archie Watt 2/11 (7) and Lewis Hofmaier 2/35 (7) were the best bowlers for Laharum. Terry Arnel top-scored for the Homers with 35 (71), and Matt Arnel scored 33 (71).
It was an extra-long break between innings as the game didn't resume until Robbie Miller concluded his run, achieving a massive 166.88km in 24 hours.
Chase Kannar struck early, taking the wicket of Matthew Whelan for four, caught by Jackson Potter.
Despite that, Lewis Hofmaier and Tristan March put on a 66-run partnership before Hofmaier fell for 29 (70) bowled by Tim Hopper.
Not long after, Tristan March retired unbeaten on 53. It was up to Josh Hutchinson and Daniel Mibus to do the job for Laharum, and they did. They scored an unbeaten 30 and 10, respectively, as they chased the total down in the 36th over, finishing with 2/131.
Tim Hopper and Chase Kannar finished with 1/24 (6) and 1/13 (3).
Laharum will face the West Wimmera Warriors in the semi-final. The Warriors lost to Natimuk by two wickets at Davis Park in a thriller that came down to the second-to-last ball.
After winning the toss and batting, the Warriors were bowled out for 143 in the 38th over with Nate Prenzler the top-scorer on 36 and Wallace Wheaton hitting a solid 31.
Hunter Schmidt was the pick of the Rams bowlers with figures of 3/27 (8).
Natimuk, sitting second last on the ladder and playing for pride, got off to a good start with Callum Cameron and Tyler Coutts putting on an opening 60-run partnership.
The Rams broke through with Glen Treverton bowling Cameron for 15 and Jordan Gurry bowling Coutts for 40, having the Rams at 2/84.
Treverton again was involved in the thick of the action, trapping Sam Peachey leg before wicket for six. When he got his third wicket not long after, having Liam Klowss caught by Wallace Wehaton for 11, the Rams were suddenly 4/98.
Cooper Gebert bowled Jett Munn for one, and when Hunter Schmidt fell for six, caught by Patrick Rogers off the bowling of James Crowhurst, the Rams were 6/119 and in trouble.
Adam Coutts and Sean Schmidt then put on a 19-run partnership, before Coutts was caught by Patrick Rogers off the bowling of Shane Kessler for 23.
Schmidt guided the Rams home with an unbeaten 11, reaching the total with one ball to spare, finishing at 8/145.
Treverton finished with figures of 3/23 (7).
Lubeck Murtoa finished first on the ladder and will play the Homers following a comfortable 59-run win over the Tigers at Lubeck Recreation Reserve.
After winning the toss and batting, Lubeck Murtoa were bowled out on the second last ball of the innings for 171.
Drew Gellatly was the start for the Mudlarks, scoring an unbeaten 50 off 63 balls, while Seth Callaby was also rock solid with 47 off 49.
Joel Plazzer, 3/21 (5) and Frank Marklew, 3/20 (7) were the pick of the bowlers for the Tigers.
The Mudlarks were relentless with the ball, taking regular wickets and troubling the Tigers top order, having them 3/43 at one stage.
Brent Hallam, 36, and Frank Marklew, 25, provided resistance for the Tigers, but when Hallam fell, they were 4/67. They then lost two quick wickets to fall to 6/72.
Joel Plazzer was able to bat around Marklew, scoring eight off 37 balls, but the task was too tough for the Tigers, with the Mudlarks bowling them out for 112 in the 38th over.
Darren Schultz was the pick of the Mudlarks bowlers with figures of 3/14 (6).
