Cricket
6 March, 2025
Final four hunt for premiership glory
The Horsham Cricket Association's A-grade season is nearing its conclusion, with the semi-finals set to get underway this weekend, Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9.
The West Wimmera Warriors, 2024 runner-up and 2025 one-day champions, go into the finals as heavy favourites, having only lost one game all season.
They face the Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants at the Horsham City Oval. The Bullants made the finals in the eleventh hour after a positive result over Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills last week.
The Warriors have a slight edge in the batting department. Bradley Alexander has been outstanding this season, scoring 478 runs at an average of 39.83. He is sitting second to Horsham Tigers Angus Adams, the standout player in the competition, amassing 659 runs at 82.38.
Mitchell Dahlenburg is third with 423 runs at 60.43, and Brodie Cramer is also in good form, sitting on 263 runs at 37.57.
In contrast, the Bullants have no one that has scored over 400 runs, with Matthew Combe their standout with both bat and ball. With the bat, he is fourth on the table with 377 runs at an average of 34.27.
Next for the Bullants is his brother, Justtin, who has scored 306 runs at 30.6. Jamie Byrne, 210 at 23.33, and Jason Harris, 202 at 67.33, are the next two.
Matthew Combe is the key to the match. He can bat and bowl, and he is currently the leading wicket-taker in the competition, with 36 wickets at an average of 9.5.
He has been well-supported by Jordan McDonald who has taken 20 wickets at 14.5.
Nathan Alexander is a big game player for the Warriors. Even though he hasn't set the world on fire with the bat, he has been brilliant with the ball and is a massive key to the Warriors' chances.
He has taken 34 wickets at an impressive average of 6.62 including an eight-wicket haul three weeks ago. Next for the Warriors are Xavier Bone and Joshua Lees, both with 17, and both at 10.47.
All-rounder Jobe Dickinson has also hit form, especially with the ball, taking three wickets in the grand final, and two last weekend, which is an extra wildcard for the Warriors.
Their previous meeting at the Horsham City Oval was back in round seven, during which 24 wickets fell in two days. The Warriors were bowled out for 92 and the Bullants 60, while the Warriors finished their second innings at 4/21.
In their other clash, in the one-day format, the Warriors easily won by six wickets having bowled the Bullants out for 85.
The defending champions, Homers, take on newcomer Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills in the other semi-final at Dudley Cornell Park.
On paper, the Homers are the better team in both batting and bowling, but form has been scratchy heading into the finals.
The Homers were runners-up in the one-day grand final and entered the finals in mixed form. Before last week, they were struggling to score runs, and last week, even though it was an improvement, they defeated the Tigers outright, which will give them confidence.
Their batting is superior to the Eagles, who have struggled most of the season in that department.
Adam Atwood leads the way for the Homers with 315 runs at 34.23, with Chaminda Gamage next with 280 runs at 25.45.
Luke Miller scored 276 at 27.6 and Patrick Mills 260 at 32.5; thus, having four players score over 250 runs for the season is impressive.
Only two of them need to find their form, which will give the Homers a significant advantage.
The Eagles have four players who have amassed over 200 runs, led by captain Isaac McPherson. McPherson scored 256 at 36.57, Tim Bell, 220 at 31.43, Jeremy Preston, 208 at 26, and Leigh Dovaston at 200 at 25.
To find their next best batsman, you have to go far down the list, and it's Mark McPherson and Lachlan McGinniss, both of whom have scored 76.
The Homers boast the tall lanky Perry brothers who are again having an outstanding season. Gibson has taken 19 wickets at 14, and Baxter has taken 18 at 18.61. Their leading wicket-taker, however, is spinner Chaminda Gamage, who has elevated his game to the next level this season. He has taken 21 wickets at 13.
Luke Miller and Adam Atwood are also handy with the ball, having taken 13 and 11 wickets respectively.
The Eagles' bowling is their strength, and all bowlers support each other well. Lachlan McGinniss and Charlie Dean have both taken 16 wickets this season. McGinniss has an average of 14, and Dean has 14.63.
Next best is Jeremy Preston and Isaac McPherson, who have taken 11 wickets, at an average of 10.91 and 12.45, respectively.
Dale Stephan and Tim Bell can also do a good job, with nine wickets, and Kobe Macgregor plays a good supporting role, having taken eight wickets.
In the previous two-day game between these two, back in round seven, the Eagles bowled the Homers out for 90 and finished at 5/122 in a weather affected match at Brim Recreation Reserve.
In their one-day match in round ten, Brim were bowled out for 87, while the Homers chased it down comfortably, finishing at 1/90.
The team that can capitalise more with the bat will take the win, and that edge goes to the Homers in what should be an intriguing cricket match.