Cricket
6 March, 2026
Finals fever in full swing
Four teams will play for a place in the Horsham Cricket Association A grade grand final as they battle it out in the semi-finals on Saturday and Sunday.
Finishing first in the home-and-away season, the West Wimmera Warriors will meet Swifts-Great Western, fresh off a miraculous round 13 performance that helped them reach the top four.
Having already claimed the one-day premiership, the Bullants will look to go one step closer to the double, but go up against a Laharum side that has gone from strength to strength in the 2025-26 season.
Facing off at Horsham City Oval, the Combine will enter the semi-final against the Warriors with renewed confidence after scoring 114 in fewer than 11 overs at the end of their match against the Tigers to secure a finals berth.
Combine skipper Aiden Graveson said he believed his side could beat anyone, particularly with a full-strength side at his disposal.
“We’ve just struggled with getting a full side on the park each week and I think we've got the best side when we're full,” Graveson said.
“When we're playing our best cricket, I've got full faith we can go all the way, so I'm looking forward to playing West Wimmera this week.”
Helping Swifts-Great Western is the knowledge that they are one of only two sides to have defeated the Warriors.
But West Wimmera have undoubtedly been the team to beat all season and are led by two of the best players in the association.
Skipper Nathan Alexander finished the home-and-away season as the equal-highest wicket taker in the competition and the second-highest run scorer, outdone only by his brother, Brad.
But the team’s depth is what makes them lethal, with players such as keeper-batsman Mitchell Dahlenburg and paceman Joshua Lees consistently performing.
At Central Park in Stawell, Laharum skipper Josh Mahoney says he's excited by the opportunity to play finals cricket as they face the Bullants.
“We’re a bit excited to get back into finals cricket; it’s been a few years for us,” Mahoney said.
With their only matchup against the Bullants having come back in round two, Mahoney said the Demons were focused on their own game rather than how they matched up against the Bullants.
“We haven’t seen them for five months but you’ve just got to focus on your own game as much as anything,” Mahoney said.
“If we play to our strengths and execute as best we can, hopefully everything else takes care of itself.”
Laharum’s strengths are spread evenly across their side, highlighted by spin-allrounder Chaminda Gamage.
Despite a disappointing loss to end the home-and-away season, the Bullants enter the semi-finals as one of the most proven sides, having defeated all other finals teams at some point during the season.
Allrounders Tony Caccaviello and Matthew Combe are the impact players for the Bullants while Phoenix Hopper looms as an X-factor for the one-day premiers, returning to the side after impressive performances for Footscray in Melbourne Premier Cricket.
In B grade, the Rup-Minyip Panthers meet the Tigers at Coughlin Park, while Swifts-Great Western take on the Horsham Saints at Jeffcott Oval.
The Panthers are undoubtedly the in-form side, having stormed home at the end of the regular season to finish top of the ladder.
Youngsters Hugh Weidemann and Jake McKenzie loom as potential game changers with the bat and ball, respectively.
But the Tigers defeated the Panthers back in round nine and have been one of the consistent performers in 2025-26.
Meanwhile, Swifts-Great Western will hope to avenge their one-day grand final loss against the Saints.
The two sides have played each other three times this season
In the C grade one-day semis on Saturday March 7, Swifts-Great Western meet Rhymney Moyston at Minyip Recreation Reserve while Laharum faces Halls Gap at Dimboola Road Oval.