Cricket
2 February, 2025
Bullants leap frog Demons
Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants has leapfrogged Laharum to the fourth spot on the ladder, narrowly missing an outright win in the process against the Horsham Tigers at Horsham City Oval on Saturday in the Horsham Cricket Association's A-grade season.
The Bullants started the day at 1/84 and reached 4/207 before they declared with a nine-run lead.
Jamie Byrne top scored with 39 runs while Dom Rose was the pick of the Tigers bowlers with figures of 2/23 (9).
After securing a point, the Bullants optimistically eyed an outright win, and the bowlers, led by Matthew Combe and Jordan McDonald, were on fire from the outset and bowled the Tigers out for 106 in the 35th over.
Angus Adams again led the way for the Tigers with 51 runs, while Gavin Brown supported him best with 21.
Combe finished with figures of 4/24 (10) following his seven-wicket haul in the first innings, while McDonald finished with 3/39 (9.5)
Chasing 98 for victory and 12 overs to reach it, the Bullants started strong through Justtin Combe, 24 and Jamie Byrne, 15, before three quick wickets had them at 3/52.
Needing 46 off the last five overs, the Bullants, through Jason Harris and Matthew Combe, got them close, with the Bullants needing 12 runs off the last over, bowled by Dom Rose.
Rose maintained his composure, but the Bullants could only manage seven runs, and the Tigers held on to avoid an outright defeat.
Harris remained unbeaten on 34 off 22 balls, with Combe on 11. Tyler Puls was the pick of the Tigers bowlers with 2/43 (6).
At Brim Recreation Reserve, BrimKSH also fell short of an outright win, with Lubeck Murtoa holding on for dear life late in the game.
The Mudlarks started the day 4/27, chasing a total of 211, and the Eagles bowlers started well and pressured the Mudlarks to bowl them out for 118.
Joshua Hedt was unbeaten on 54, while Jeremy Preston 3/6 and Isaac McPherson 3/14 were the pick of the bowlers for the Eagles.
With a lead of 92, the Eagles came out firing, and it was Sam Leith, in his second game for the club, who top scored with 27, and Tim Bell scored 20, leading them to a total of 72 before the Eagles declared.
Cameron Newell was the pick of the Mudlarks bowlers with 2/9 (1.3).
With 26 overs left in the day, the Eagles wasted no time, pressuring the Mudlarks to have them 6/48.
The Eagles bowled tight, but Oscar Gawith was the saviour for the Mudlarks, providing plenty of resistance. The teenager finished with an unbeaten 32 off 22 balls to save the Mudlarks an outright defeat. Thomas Barrand was the other Mudlark to score double figures, hitting 28 opening the innings.
The Eagles bowlers were led by Lachlan McGinniss, 3/25 and Charlie Dean, 3/11.
The other two matches were far from close. The Horsham Saints defeated Laharum comfortably at Coughlin Park.
After bowling Laharum out for 148 in the 45th over last week, the Saints cruised past the total to finish at 6/228, their highest score for the season.
Brock Hamerston top-scored with 51, while Dezi Carter, 38, and Corey Smith, 39, batted well.
Connor Cowan 2/34 (10) and Max Bunworth 2/30 (10) were the best bowlers for Laharum.
The West Wimmera Warriors defeated the Homers at Davis Park by 181 runs.
The Homers were chasing a daunting total of 322 and never got any momentum, losing regular wickets.
Joshua Lees was the star for the Warriors with the ball, taking 3/25 (12), while Nathan Alexander took 2/16 (8) as they bowled the Homers out for 140 after 64 overs.
Matthew Kerr was brilliant for the Homers, scoring an unbeaten 34, while captain Adam Atwood was solid, scoring 32 and opening the batting.
With two rounds remaining, the Warriors are first on the ladder, with the Homers and BrimKSH hot on their heels one game behind.
The Bullants are fourth, with Laharum and Lubeck Murtoa breathing down their necks, while the Horsham Saints, Colts, and Tigers are playing for pride, unable to make the finals.
HUDSON SCORES MASSIVE CENTURY
Brent Hudson hit 173 runs off 177 balls in an innings, which included five sixes and 27 fours as the Rupanyup/Minyip Panthers piled on the runs against BrimKSH at Minyip Recreation Reserve.
The Panthers started the day on 1/91, trailing by 39 runs with Hudson on 42. The young Eagles started the day on a bright start with two quick wickets to Royce Bennett and Dale Stephan to have the Panthers 3/118.
Hudson hung around and started to hit the boundaries, and even though regular wickets fell, the home side was able to make it to 4/203 before a string of wickets fell.
Stephan got the breakthrough, bowling Jake McKenzie for eight. When he bowled Anthony McCurdy for four, and Aiden Ciemcioch took the wicket of Gaving Young for ten, the Panthers were 7/222.
Nicholas McIntyre came to the crease with Hudson, and Hudson scored 47 runs in their partnership of 62.
Hugh Weidemann and Jarvis Mitchell then batted out the innings, with the former getting valuable time at the crease after not having batted much the last month, where the game was called, with the Panthers taking the point and remaining unbeaten.
Dale Stephan was the pick of the Eagles bowlers with figures of 3/69 (14).
At the Quantong Recreation Reserve, Quantong faced an uphill battle to chase down 355, but they gave it their best shot and were bowled out for 192 in the 65th over.
Andrew Vague and Jack Vague scored 35 and 33, respectively, opening the batting, and Zac Walter scored 34 for Quantong.
Cody Keddie was the pick of the Saints bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/13 (11).
At Dudley Cornell Park, the Colts missed out on getting a much-needed point, bowled out 19 just short of the total they were chasing, 157.
Dylan Arnott was the star for the Colts, hitting 53 runs, and had help from Beau Purchase 13, Darren Stephens 15 and Chris Potter 13, but the Colts were unable to chase the target due to the Bullants' solid bowling.
The Bullants were led by John Heard and Heath Lang, who took 3/37 (14) and 3/28 (20), respectively.
RAMS WIN SECOND GAME OF THE SEASON
Natimuk secured their second win of the season with a 44-run win over the Horsham Tigers at Dimboola Road Oval in round 13 of the Horsham Cricket Association C-grade competition.
After winning the toss and batting, Natimuk were bowled out for 200 after 40 overs, with Liam Klowss starring with 59 runs off 51 balls. His innings included seven fours and two sixes. Sam Peachey 38 also shone brightly for Natimuk.
Michael Fontana was the pick of the Tigers bowlers with 2/14 (3). In an all-round team bowling display, eight bowlers each took a wicket.
In reply, despite a solid opening partnership from Michael Fontana and Charlie Millar, the Rams got on top early, having the home side 4/68.
Despite Callum Jackson scoring 60 and Archie Knight leading with an unbeaten 30, the Tigers couldn't reach the total and finished at 7/156.
Tom Murray was the pick of the Rams bowlers with 3/16 (6).
At Murtoa Recreation Reserve, Lubeck Murtoa was too good for Laharum, winning by 33 runs.
After winning the toss and batting, the Mudlarks finished at 9/158. Finnian Delahunty top-scored with 46, with Drew Gellatly 38 and Philip Yew 26, putting in handy contributions.
Matthew Whelan was the pick of the Laharum bowlers, who finished with figures of 3/32 (7).
In reply, the Demons lost three quick wickets to be 3/19 and found it too tough to rebuild their innings, with the Mudlarks bowling too strong, bowling Laharum out for 125 in the 34th over.
Archie Watt top-scored for the Demons, while Seth Callaby was the pick of the Mudlarks bowlers with figures of 4/16 (5.2).
At Sunnyside Recreation Reserve, the West Wimmera Warriors powered to an eight-wicket win over the Homers.
After winning the toss and bowling, the Warriors restricted the Homers to 9/153. Glen Treverton was the pick of the Warriors bowlers with 2/22 (7). Terry Arnel scored 51, and Matt Arnel hit 48 for the Homers.
Despite losing Jordan Gurry for 11, the Warriors had little trouble reaching the total, scoring 2/154 in 16 overs.
Tim Braendler top-scored with an unbeaten 48, while Wallace Wheaton was also unbeaten on 40, and Glen Treverton scored 45.
Chase Kannar and Barry Hopper both finished with figures of 1/15 for the Homers.
