Round a tale of two halves
The first round of two-day cricket was a tale of two halves – with a close game and three significant margins.
Lubeck-murtoa was 10 runs from chasing down Horsham Saints’ 164run target when the team was all out at the end of the second day, of Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade competition.
Lubeck-murtoa batters Seth Callaby, 43, Shannon Reddie, 39, and Josh Hedt, 22, gave a good account but ultimately it was not enough to rein in the Saints.
Horsham Saints’ Ben Sawyer took three wickets, with Brock Hamerston and Jono Carroll taking two apiece.
Resuming at 2-111 on day two, the Bullants were in prime position against Blackheath-dimboola’s first innings 90, on Saturday.
Matthew Combe had scored 110, not out, when the Bullants declared at 4-217, setting Blackheath-dimboola 127 runs to make the Bullants bat again.
Bullants’ Heath Lang destroyed the Bulls’ batting order with 6-17 off six overs to have Blackheath-dimboola all out for 77 – 50 runs short of Bullants’ total.
Matt Combe and Jack Combe took a wicket each in the decisive outright win.
Blackheath-dimboola captain Sam Leith was the only batter to hold out against the Bullants with a solid 48 runs from 58 balls.
Horsham Tigers won on first innings after resuming at 5-131 and scoring another 48 runs.
Homers, declared at 9-134, set an achievable 62 for the Tigers in an attempt to gain outright points.
The Tigers were 3-54 when stumps were drawn.
Prabath Bandara, Aaron Leith and David Puls were the Tigers’ main run-getters on day two.
Baxter Perry took five wickets for the Pigeons, supported by Chaminda Gamage with three. Gamage backed up his bowling with 39 runs in the second innings, while Tigers’ Angus Adams took four wickets.
West Wimmera and Laharum played Saturday and Sunday last week with the Warriors winning by 304 runs.
Round three takes the competition back to a one-day format and teams will be looking for another day of close margins.
Horsham Saints and Bullants narrowly lost their first one-day games in round one, so will be determined for a competitive game.
Tigers and West Wimmera came home with narrow round-one wins so will be fighting to remain undefeated following Saturday’s game.
Lubeck-murtoa will be excited to get on the ground for a one-day game after its first round was abandoned due to pitch works.
The Mudlarks will play Laharum who will also be looking to prove its skills with no wins to its name, yet.
Blackheath-dimboola and Homers will go head-to-head for the Bulls’ first one-day match and the Pigeons will be looking to go two wins from two.