Cricket
16 February, 2025
Colts upset Panthers in thriller
A remarkable 101-run eighth wicket stand between Austin Simpson and Brydon McPhee has led the Colts to victory at the Minyip Recreation Reserve, handing the Rupanyup/Minyip Panthers their first loss of the season to conclude round 11 of the Horsham Cricket Association B-grade competition.
Neeing 219 for victory, the Colts fell for 7/111, and Simpson and McPhee came to the crease and put on a clinic. Simpson scored 63 (74), and McPhee hit an unbeaten 40, hitting the winning runs in the 59th over to give the Colts victory, finishing at 9/219.
McPhee and Simpson came to the crease with the score 7/112 and did the job in a terrific performance.
Scott McCurdy was the pick of the Panthers bowlers, taking 3/44 (14.5), with Jarvis Mitchell taking 2/38 (9).
In another impressive performance, the Horsham Tigers took the last six wickets for 20 runs to pounce to victory over BrimKSH at Dimboola Road Oval.
Needing 163 for victory, the Eagles lost Jack Hadley early, but at 1/23, Mark Williams and Connor McGinniss put on a 57-run partnership to help inch the Eagles closer to the total.
Williams fell for 46, caught by Nigel Binney off Chris Eagle's bowling. When McGinniss fell to Binney's secure hands off Tom Iredell-Burke's bowling for 32, the Eagles were 3/111, needing only 52 runs for victory.
Sam Tickner fell for a duck shortly after, but Harry Withers and Trent Allen batted solidly to guide them to 4/130.
Withers and Allen then fell quickly, and so did the innings, with the Tigers wrapping it up, bowling the Eagles out for 150 in the 63rd over.
Amrit B K was the pick of the bowlers for the Tigers, claiming 5/32 (15.4).
At Horsham City Oval, the Bullants defended their total of 141, bowling the Horsham Saints out for 126 in the 55th over.
Mason Hair did the damage for the Bullants with the ball, taking 3/14 (11) as the Saints stumbled. Muhammad Hassaan Masoon top-scored for the Sants with 32.
With one round remaining, a two-day match, the Colts, Tigers and Bullants are in a battle for the last two finals spots, equal on points.
The Colts play second-place Horsham Saints, the Bullants play BrimKSH, who are second last on the ladder, and the Tigers play cellar-dwellers Quantong in a thrilling finale to the home and away season.
