Cricket
28 November, 2025
Two-day action awaits cricketers
Australia and England played out a two-day Test match to open the Ashes, and coincidentally, the Horsham Cricket Association’s A grade competition will commence the first two-day games of the season this Saturday.
The change of pace comes after six rounds of one-day matches, where West Wimmera has made an unbeaten start to the year, with the Bullants hot on their heels in second with a 5-1 record.
Donald Jeffcott are currently in third, and Laharum is in fourth, while Swifts-Great Western are just outside of the top four, with all three teams having a 4-2 record heading into round seven.
Six rounds into the season, and numerous players are distinguishing themselves with either bat or ball.
West Wimmera’s Brad Alexander leads the competition with 251 runs at an average of 83.67.
On the back of a 109-run performance against Lubeck Murtoa, Swifts-Great Western’s Zach Marrow has 237 runs at an average of 59.25, while Donald Jeffcott’s Koby Westerland rounds out the top three run scorers with 235 runs.
Nathan Alexander, last season’s bowling average award winner, has continued last season’s form as he leads A grade with 11 wickets at an average of 8.09.
But five players closely follow with 10 wickets each, led by the Bullants’ Tony Caccaviello, who is averaging 6.2 runs per wicket, and Wil Clough.
Behind the stumps, St Mary’s Daniel Westerland and Laharum’s Monty Wynne lead the competition with eight catches each.
In comparison, Lubeck Murtoa’s Joshua Hedt has an impressive three stumpings to go along with his seven catches.
This Saturday, the Tigers will aim to continue the momentum of their first victory as they go against the Colts at Horsham City Oval.
Tigers captain Tyler Puls said his team would like to get a second win, but knows the Colts will be a tough matchup.
"It'd be nice to make it two in a row, but the Colts, even though they have one win like us, they've also been pretty competitive in all their games," Puls said.
"I'm sure they will be motivated for another, so it should be a good game."
Puls was pleased to help get the team over the line with a crucial innings of 90 not out, acknowledging the valuable experience the young players in the team are getting after losing some players.
"It's been quite a while since I've really made runs, so to do it in that fashion to support the team over the line was unreal," Puls said.
"I obviously could not have done it without Andy Brown at the other end supporting me, which is one of our young kids coming through.
"We have lost a few players from last season, but having these young guys come through has been great."
Swifts-Great Western will face a difficult task to move into the top four as they host West Wimmera at Central Park in Stawell.
The Warriors contained Swifts-Great Western to 131 runs in their round five one-day clash before proceeding to win by five wickets.
But with two of the leading five run scorers in the competition in Zach Marrow and captain Aiden Graveson, the combined team would be expected to put in an improved performance, particularly with the advantage of a home game.
At Brim Recreation Reserve, the Bullants will look to back up their strong performance against Donald Jeffcott as they meet Brim KSH.
Bullants captain Tony Caccaviello enters the clash in impeccable all-round form, with knocks of 48 and 46 not out, and bowling figures of 4/5 and 3/26 in his past two matches.
While Brim KSH have been inconsistent, dominant bowling performances in wins against the Colts and St Mary’s suggest they can challenge the Bullants if they are close to full strength.
Donald Jeffcott start their two-day campaign when they host St Mary’s at Donald Recreation Reserve.
Leading the competition in runs scored, the home side will hope to bounce back from its worst batting performance of the year against the Bullants.
They will be favoured against St Mary’s, who were in prime position to win their first game of the season last week before Tyler Puls' match-winning knock for the Tigers.
At Sunnyside Recreation Reserve, Lubeck Murtoa meet a Laharum side who have produced four consecutive wins.
The Demons have impressed in all facets of the game, with opener Daniel Griffiths leading the side with the bat in recent games, and Jason Kannar demonstrating his all-round ability, including 134 runs to go with his nine wickets.
Despite losing three games in a row, the seventh-placed Mudlarks have been competitive in the majority of their clashes, including a tight loss to Donald Jeffcott in round four.
Lubeck Murtoa captain Cameron Newell will be a player to watch, having scored 126 runs and taken nine wickets leading into Saturday.
In B grade two-day action, the Bullants hosts Swifts-Great Western at Noradjuha Recreation Reserve, the Rup-Minyip Panthers travel to Donald Recreation Reserve to take on Donald Jeffcott, the Colts host league leaders Horsham Saints at Dudley Cornell Park, St Mary’s hosts local rivals Brim KSH at Anzac Park, and West Wimmera travel to Dimboola Road Oval to take on the Tigers.
In C grade’s one-day competition, Homers take on the Tigers at Dudley Corner Park, Lubeck Murtoa hosts the Horsham Saints at Murtoa Recreation Reserve, Quantong travels to Cameron Oval to go against Laharum, Natimuk hosts league leaders Halls Gap at Natimuk Showgrounds, and Rhymney Moyston travel to Great Western Recreation Reserve, where they will meet Swifts-Great Western.