Association to host T20 trial

Horsham cricketers will resume competition at the weekend with an association first as sides participate in an inset Twenty20 cricket season.

Association secretary Darren Chesterfield said both A and B grades were preparing to play two T20 matches on each of the next three weekends, culminating in a T20 grand final on February 16.

He said this would see eight matches played on each day, contributing to both a T20 ladder and half-points to the competition’s standing ladder.

He said this was part of a test trial that would help determine whether T20 matches could feature more prominently in the association’s yearly competitions.

“Lots of people have been keen to play T20 cricket, and lots of people haven’t. We have got a few who like it and a few who don’t,” he said.

“So, we figured the best way to know if it’s something people actually want to do is to run a bit of a trial. So, that’s this year.

“If the feedback is positive, we’ll look at a way we could keep it going. If it’s not, we’ll try something else.”

Mr Chesterfield said the competition’s four Horsham City Oval matches on Saturday would also help raise money for bushfire relief as part of a ‘Hit a Six’ fundraiser.

He said the association would donate $25 each time a player hit a six during the four games, with major sponsor Ben Sawyer from Preston Rowe Paterson property valuers Horsham matching the donation.

“So, we’ll have $50 donated for every six in the four main city oval games,” he said.

“The main thing really is that people turn up at the time they’re supposed to play, and hit some sixes.”

This week’s T20 matches will see second placed Horsham Saints try to break away from third-rung Noradjuha-toolondo at 1.15pm, before turning to ladder-leader Homers in a 4.15pm match, both at Coughlin Park.

Homers are then matched up against Rupanyup-minyip at Horsham City Oval at 7.15pm for a ‘Hit a Six’ game.

Blackheath-dimboola and Noradjuhatoolondo will also be going for sixes when they take on each other at the city oval at 10am, with Colts and Laharum starting their first matches of the day at the same time at Dudley Cornell Park.

Laharum will then take on Jung Tigers at 1.15pm for another Hit a Six match, while Colts will stay put to square off against Blackheath-dimboola at Dudley Cornell Park.

Rounding out the four ‘Hit a Six’ games will be Jung Tigers and Rupanyup-minyip at 4.15pm.