Cricket
23 December, 2025
Colts hold on against Eagles
Round eight of the Horsham Cricket Association A grade competition was highlighted by numerous outright victories and tight contests on Saturday, including the Colts producing a much-needed win over Brim KSH.
The Eagles commenced day two at 2/45 following the Colts’ first-innings total of 102, but four quick wickets from Josh Colbert had the visitors 6/51.
Charlie Dean (16) and Ethan Schilling (12) then put on 40 runs to have the Eagles 11 runs away from the Colts' total.
But the Colts, led by a hat-trick across overs from skipper Jake McLean, saw the home side claim 4/0 and bowl out the Eagles for 91, taking first-innings points in the process.
Sandon Schultz led the Eagles with 19 runs while Colbert and McLean finished with figures of 4/9 and 3/25, respectively.
The Colts would then score 90 in their second knock, led by Dylan Arnott (26) and Jaxon Crooks (17), with Charlie Dean (3/13) and Jeremy Preston (2/5) among the key Eagles’ bowlers.
With just 10 overs remaining in the day, Brim KSH needed to score 102 for an outright victory.
An impressive 46 off 31 balls from Isaac McPherson helped the visitors to 6/78 – 24 runs short.
Joey Nagorcka (2/26) and Josh Colbert (2/37) helped to limit the Eagles' chances as the Colts left with six points.
Jake McLean was asked about his hat-trick and what it meant to get the victory right before the Christmas break.
“It was over two overs: the last two of one over and then the first ball of the next over,” McLean said
“Three bowled so it was great.
“Very excited to claim the points.
“It’s been the tough tell of the whole year really: we’ve been in most games but haven't got over the line so it’s good to go into Christmas with two wins in a row.”
At Davis Park, West Wimmera continued their strong start with the bat from day one, declaring at 0/158 in reply to Donald Jeffcott’s 81.
Brad Alexander scored his second century off the season, finishing at 100 not out, while Mitchell Dahlenburg scored 51 not out.
Cooper Anderson was the pick of the Warriors bowlers with an economical 0/33 from 17 overs.
In Donald Jeffcott’s second innings, Nathan Alexander had the visitors in early trouble, taking three early wickets to have them 3/18.
But contributions from Thomas Reekie (26), Dylan Ruurds (22) and William Burke (19 not out) helped Donald Jeffcott to see out the day at 8/119.
Nathan Alexander dominated with the ball for the Warriors as he finished with 6/26 from 19 overs.
At Horsham City Oval, Lubeck Murtoa resumed their second innings at 4/20, needing to reach 132 to prevent an innings win for the Bullants.
Matthew Combe struck immediately to remove Mudlarks skipper Cameron Newell, and from there the Bullants never looked in doubt, bowling Lubeck Murtoa out for 78 to win by an innings and 62 runs.
Blake Turner provided some spark for the Mudlarks in the second innings with 38 not out while Aaron Leith finished with 21.
Matthew Combe continued his great game to finish with innings figures of 5/30 while Phoenix Hopper claimed 3/1 to finish off the innings.
Combe spoke about how important it was for his side to claim the 10 points.
“We felt we really let ourselves down last round – full credit to Brim with the way they played but we felt like we missed out on the chance to get six points, and then we really wanted to fight back this game and to get 10 points,” Combe said.
“We just talked about how close it is up at the top of the ladder, so hugely important to get the 10, especially before Christmas.”
At Central Park, Max McMahon (68 not out) and Jesse Eckel (62 not out) quickly added 107 runs early on day two to help Swifts-Great Western to 3/221 before declaring after St Mary’s managed 79 in their first innings on day one.
Amidst several contributors, St Mary’s reached 163 in their second innings, led by 43 from Brodie Dennes and 29 from Sanil Sajive.
Swifts-Great Western’s Zach Marrow backed up his four-wicket performance from day one with a 6/68 effort to claim a 10-wicket haul for the match, while Sam Wells claimed 2/22.
Requiring 22 runs off 15 overs to claim an outright victory, Jacob Dunn (17 not out) and Jack Cann) had little trouble in securing the Combine’s 10 points.
At Sunnyside Recreation Reserve, the Tigers resumed day two at 4/19 after Laharum scored 222 on day one.
Despite soem resistance from Marty Knight (24 not out) and Grant Connolly (22) in the middle and lower order, Laharum bowled the Tigers out for 84, led by 4/6 from Josh Mahoney as Joel Pymer had 2/5.
The Demons then enforced the follow-on, with Brenton Hallam (15) and Marty Knight (11) getting the Tigers off to a solid start in their second innings.
But Laharum’s bowling unit sparked a Tigers collapse, leaving them at 8/49.
David Puls (28 not out) and Grant Connolly (17) helped the side to 98 before they were bowled out.
Pymer and Mahoney again starred with the ball as they finished with figures of 4/21 and 2/20, respectively, to help Laharum win by an innings and 40 runs.
With their second outright win in a row, Laharum finish the calendar year in first place.
