Demons show strength
Two-day cricket has resumed for Horsham Cricket Association A Graders and the first day brought plenty of excitement for teams.
Laharum showed its strength when it bowled first against Lubeck-murtoa.
Joel Pymer, 5-19, and Josh Mahoney, 4-45, were crucial in the Demons’ efforts to limit Lubeck-murtoa to 125 runs.
Josh Hedt, 49, remained at the crease for the longest time, after openers Blake Turner and Nic Ballagh went out for a duck.
Alby Kingston also showed what he could do with the bat with 24, not out.
Laharum faced four overs before the end of day one and was 0-4.
Brodie Foster and Jude Borlase will be first out to the crease on Saturday to begin day two.
Homers should push to extend its 11-run lead early and give itself the opportunity to bowl again to defeat Blackheath-dimboola outright.
Homers’ Chaminda Gamage was effective, taking 3-15 including bowling Max Spokes for a golden duck, and was well supported by Gibson Perry, 3-31.
Sam Leith and Jordy Laverty were main-stayers with the bat for Blackheath-dimboola, scoring 35 and 28 runs respectively.
Horsham Saints has its work cut out for it as it chases the Bullants’ 195.
The Saints will rely on Dezi Carter and Jono Carroll to bat most of the day for a chance to beat the target.
Saints run-machine Gary Davidson was out early on Saturday for one, which will not help Saints’ cause.
Bullants’ Justtin Combe was one run from a half-century when Mark Crafter trapped him LBW.
Other key run-scorers were Troy Dumesny, 35, and Jamie Byrne, 27.
The Saints’ Crafter continued in form taking four wickets for 44 runs off 15 overs.
He was supported by Carroll, Cameron
Pellissier and Brock Hamerston, who took two apiece.
Horsham Tigers set West Wimmera a competitive 226-run target at Davis Park, Nhill.
The Warriors will need the Alexander brothers, Nathan and Brad, to bat well, with Brett Jensz and Liam Preston offering support to chase a win.
Angus Adams was impressive for the Tigers with 110 not-out, scoring 11 fours.
Tyler Puls, 47, and opener Brenton Hallam, 48, also contributed to the Tigers’ solid total.
Warriors’ Nathan Alexander took three wickets for the day, with Brad
Alexander and James Crowhurst taking the other two.
The Tigers had lost five wickets by stumps on the first day and will look to captain Puls to lead their bowling on day two.
With two more two-day rounds before finals, teams will be working hard to secure crucial points and ensure they play at the pointy end of the season. Results, at the end of day one: Lubeck-murtoa 10-125 v Laharum 0-4; Blackheath-dimboola 10-115 v Homers 2-136; Bullants 10-195 v Horsham Saints 3-24; West Wimmera 0-0 v Horsham Tigers 5-226.