Cricket
19 December, 2025
Big wins on the cards
Round eight of the Horsham Cricket Association A grade competition continues this Saturday, December 20, with multiple teams eyeing off outright victories on day two.
One such team is Swifts-Great Western, who resume day two at 3/114 after bowling out St Mary’s for 79 in the first innings.
Middle order batsmen Max McMahon (17 not out) and Jesse Eckel (7 not out) will look to pile on more runs for the home side before getting a chance to bowl against St Mary’s.
If the visitors can continue their end-of-day one form and get early breakthroughs, they can put the pressure back on the home side, but will likely need an improved batting performance from their first innings.
At City Oval, the Bullants resume day two in a prime position to claim the ten points.
The Bullants dominated Lubeck Murtoa on day one, bowling the Mudlarks out for 69 before declaring at 6/209. The Mudlarks then faced 10 overs at the end of day one, where they finished 4/20.
With a 120-run lead, Bullants' opening bowlers Matthew Combe and Tony Caccaviello will look to continue their day one form (four and five wickets, respectively) to secure the victory.
Standing in the way will be incumbent Lubeck Murtoa batsmen Aaron Leith and Cameron Newell.
Leith opened the second innings and resumes day two at 18 not out, while Newell is the fourth leading runscorer in the competition.
At Davis Park, West Wimmera resume at 0/92 after a strong bowling performance saw them bowl out Donald Jeffcott for 81.
If Brad Alexander (51 not out) and Mitchell Dahlenburg (35 not out) continue how they started on day one, the Warriors will have an excellent opportunity to pursue an outright win.
But Donald Jeffcott have proven themselves as one of the best batting teams in the competition, and would be expecting a batting performance in their second innings.
At Sunnyside, the Tigers return to the crease at 4/19 in response to Laharum’s 222.
With Laharum’s mix of wicket takers like Jackson Hoffman, Chaminds Gamage, and Josh Mahoney, the Tigers have a difficult task ahead if they are to challenge the Demons.
Having taken an outright victory at Sunnyside last round, Laharum may fancy their chances again if they dismiss the Tigers early on Saturday.
An interesting contest recommences at Dudley Cornell Park as Brim KSH starts day two at 2/45, having bowled the Colts out for 102.
Sandon Schultz (14 not out) and Jeremy Preston (10 not out) will look to build on their opening day starts, and have the in-form Isaac McPherson to come.
For Colts, Jay Couch, Logan Millar and Joey Nagorcka loom as the key bowlers.
In the B grade competition, the Rup-Minyip Panthers will aim to hand the Horsham Saints their first loss of the season, the Bullants resume day two in a strong position against Brim KSH, Swifts-Great Western require 30 runs with six wickets in hand to pass Donald Jeffcott’s first innings total, the Tigers will look to build on their first innings lead against St Mary’s, while the match between the Colts and West Wimmera is evenly poised entering day two.
In round 10 of the C grade competition, Halls Gap hosts Rhymney Moyston at Halls Gap Recreation Reserve, the Horsham Saints go against Blackheath Dimboola at Coughlin Park, Lubeck Murtoa travel to Natimuk Showgrounds to take on Natimuk, Laharum hosts the Tigers at Cameron Oval, and Quantong meet league leaders Swifts-Great Western at Quantong Recreation Reserve.