Tigers sneak in for Homers tester
Jung Tigers will be raging underdogs in Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade grand final after securing a place in the season play-off.
The Tigers will take on perennial favourites Homers in a showdown at Horsham City Oval this weekend after beating Horsham Saints in an 11th-hour semi-final upset.
Jung Tigers have moved through the season as a third-stringing outfit behind the Pigeons and Saints but produced a crucial victory when it mattered.
Homers also shored up its place in the season finale, beating Rupanyup-minyip in the other semi-final.
The Tigers have relied heavily on a relatively long batting list to maintain their place in the top four this season, but last weekend at Dimboola it was their bowlers who did the damage.
Dimboola has traditionally been home to a ‘good’ cricket wicket, offering something for ball as well as bat and results reflected as much.
The Saints opted to bat first on Saturday and as par for the course for much of the season had a strong start with Gary Davidson, 30, and Cory Smith, 43, sharing a 60-run opening stand.
But the introduction of leg-spinning all-rounder and skipper Angus Adams led to Davidson’s downfall and the wickets of Saints captain Austin Smith and Mark Crafter quickly followed.
Off-spinner Jake Mclean and medium pacers David Puls and Joel Pymer then shared success as Saints wickets tumbled until the side was eventually all out for 143.
The Tigers then chased down the target, losing three wickets in the process and in-form Brett Jensz unbeaten at the wicket on 89.
Wickets galore tumbled in the other semi-final, at Horsham City Oval, and another upset appeared in the wind when Homers were all out for 138.
Homers too had a good start, with Adam Atwood, 52, and Simon Hopper, 28, enjoying a 48run opening stand.
But medium-pacers Clinton Midgley, 5-41, and Mark Mbofana, 4-53, conspired to rattle through the Pigeons for only 138.
But the winning runs, seemingly so close for the chasing side, soon appeared miles away for the Blue Panthers, who crashed under the combined pressure of newball duo Craig Britten and Jarred Combe.
Britten did much of the early damage, capturing 4-17, Combe finished with 4-40 and leftarmer Eddie Landwehr chimed in with a couple of scalps as Rupanyup-minyip collapsed to be all out for 100.
Mbofana’s 54 in the middle order stood out like a beacon amid the carnage.
This week’s grand final will feature a smorgasbord of batting and bowling talent.
Both sides have potent and dogged batting lists as well as a proven mix of bowling options.
The action starts at Horsham City Oval at 11am on Saturday.
Details
This week: Grand final, Saturdaysunday Homers v Jung Tigers at Horsham City Oval. Last week: Semi-finals, Homers 138 (A. Atwood 52, S. Hopper 28; C. Midgley 5-41, M. Mbofana 4-53) d Rupanyup-minyip 100 (M. Mbofana 54; C. Britten 4-17, J. Combe 4-40), Jung Tigers 3-146 (B. Jensz 89no) d Horsham Saints 143 (C. Smith 43, G. Davidson 30; A. Adams 3-21, D. Puls 3-22).