Wickets tumbling
AHorsham Cricket Association clash between Jung Tigers and Rupanyupminyip has been a story of tumbling wickets as both try to gain a psychological edge in a build-up to finals.
Play between the two at Horsham City Oval will resume on Saturday with the Tigers needing only 14 runs to secure first-innings points and the Blue Panthers requiring five wickets.
Fifteen wickets fell last Saturday, rare for a usually benign Horsham City Oval track, with the Tigers’ Dan Garner finishing off a Jung assault with 4-8.
Blue Panthers all-rounder Mark Mbofana, who had earlier top-scored for his team with 39, then followed up with the ball and will resume this weekend with 4-24 against his name.
Knocks from Mbofana, Dan Clark, run out for 25 and Victor Lothian, 18, were the only bright batting performances from Rupanyup-minyip.
But the top-order batting effort from the Tigers was also far from impressive with Sam Leith providing some resistance with 23.
Father and son Puls combination David, 27, and Tyler, 15, will resume at the crease for the Tigers on Saturday.
Horsham Saints, meanwhile, continued their solid pre-finals batting form, clipping 9-273 against West Wimmera at Nhill.
Corey Smith top-scored for the Saints with 76 while fellow opener Gary Davidson continued his big season with 60. His knock, with one home-andaway round remaining after this weekend, took his season tally to 653 at an average of 72.56.
Austin Smith at first drop contributed 45 and Josh Hedt an unbeaten 35 and Tim Bell 26 down the order.
West Wimmera toiled hard against the Saints’ potent top order with Brad Keller returning the best figures of 4-37.
The Warriors have a hefty chase to navigate when play resumes.
Premiership favourites Homers appear primed to continue their march towards the finals after a crushing first-day effort against Laharum.
The Pigeons showed off their eclectic mix of bowlers at Horsham Sunnyside to run through the Mountain Men for 61 before responding with 4-151 and securing first-innings points.
Craig Britten and Jarred Combe captured three wickets each, while Daniel Griffiths, 18, and Will Gulline were the only Laharum batsmen to make it into double figures.
Laharum did well to pick up a couple of relatively cheap wickets, but Adam Atwood still made 34, Jason Kannar 44 and Combe, 44, and Eddie Landwehr, 14, are still unbeaten at the wicket.
The Saints have already qualified to take on Homers for a Cornell-schwedes One Day Shield on March 10, but are also on the hunt for an overall competition title.