Warriors in, but no time to celebrate
West Wimmera will quickly put celebrations from its 11th-hour snatch-and-grab of a Horsham Cricket Association finals spot on the back-burner when it returns for semi-finals this weekend.
The Warriors produced an upset final-round win against premiership fancy Noradjuha-toolondo at Horsham City Oval last week and now fronts up again against the Bullants.
West Wimmera had to beat the Bullants to replace Jung Tigers in the top four in the final round and despite ever-threatening rain, managed to clinch the result.
The Warriors scored 9-167 from 40 overs and in a dramatic finish bowled their opponents out for 140, securing victory in the final stages of the game.
Mitch Dahlenberg was the outstanding batsman of the game, hitting 78 and sharing relatively brief but important partnerships with a string of team-mates such as Nathan Alexander, Liam Preston, Austin Smith and Bradley Alexander. He almost carried his bat through the innings.
The Warriors then shared spoils with the ball, Luke Smith returning the best figures of 3-22 as Bullants’ Matt Combe, 47, made the Westerners work hard for their win.
The return bout should be a beauty and although the Bullants will start favourites, West Wimmera would be flush with fresh confidence.
Noradjuha-toolondo has plenty of talent to put on show and Tony Caccaviello, who rarely fails with either bat or ball, Justtin Combe, Josh Beddison, Shane Oakley, Kent Hair, Anthony Cutter, Jordan Mcdonald and co will be hard to beat.
The other semi-final will be on the outstanding Dimboola track, which will offer plenty for combatants Homers and Rupanyup-minyip.
Rupanyup-minyip drew first blood against the Pigeons in a finals warmup at Sunnyside oval last week, successfully defending 6-191 by bowling its opponents out for 171.
The inclusion of allrounder Mark Mbofana makes a huge difference to the Blue Panthers’ fortunes. He again shone, hitting an unbeaten 53
in the middle order and also capturing wickets.
Jamie Byrne, 43, and Dylan Eats, 38, also made runs and with Jake Leith, Connor and Lachie Weidemann, Daniel Schaper and Corey Morgan look more than handy this weekend.
Homers will also be hard to beat, especially if Paddy Mills, Luke Deutscher, Joey Nagorcka and Jett Hopper, who all failed last week, can turn their results around.
Logan Miller, who made 54 last hit, Will Goudie, 40, and Gibson Perry, 21, are already seeing the ball well.
And let’s not forget all-rounders Simon Hopper and Chaminda Gamage and opening bowlers Baxter Perry and John Officer are also in the team.
This game should also be a beauty with the Dimboola wicket always offering something to bowling and batting teams. This week: Semi-finals: A Grade, Noradjuha-toolondo v West Wimmera at Horsham City Oval, Homers v Rupanyup-minyip at Dimboola; B Grade, Colts v Laharum at Coughlin Park, Blackheath-dimboola v Horsham Saints, Cornell Park; C Grade, West Wimmera v Quantong, Horsham Community Oval, Blackheath v Dimboola at Minyip. Last week: A Grade, West Wimmera 9-167 (M. Dahlenburg 78; T. Caccaviello 3-26) d Noradjuha-toolondo Bullants 140 (M. Combe 47; L. Smith 3-22), Rupanyup-minyip 6-91 (M. Mbofana 53no, J. Byrne 43, D. Eats 38) d Homers 171 (L. Millar 54, W. Goudie 40; C. Leith 3-14, L. Weidemann 3-18). Final ladder: A Grade, Noradjuha-toolondo Bullants 78 points, 1.42 percent; Homers 54, 0.99; Rupanyup-minyip 51, 0.86; West Wimmera 45, 1.00; Jung Tigers 42, 0.80