Cricket
9 March, 2025
Homers and Warriors produce upsets
The Homers and West Wimmera Warriors will meet in next week's Horsham Cricket Association's C-grade grand final, following upset wins over Lubeck Murtoa and Laharum on Saturday, March 8.
Like the two grades above them, the fourth-placed team upset the ladder leaders, with the Homers defeating Lubeck Murtoa by seven wickets at Dimboola Road Oval.
The Homers headed into the match with only seven wins for the season and were massive underdogs with Lubeck Murtoa having 13.
The Homers won the toss and bowled, immediately getting the Mudlarks in trouble. Oliver Garth Lindsay and Finnian Delahunty both fell for ducks off Terry Arnel's and Chase Kannar's bowling, with the Homers having the Mudlarks 2/9.
Seth Callaby and Logan Petering then steadied the ship for the Mudlarks, putting on 46 runs before Callaby was bowled by Charlie Hopper for 26.
Petering and Cameron Whyte batted well together, adding another 25 runs before Petering fell, caught by Tim Hopper off Barry Hopper's bowling for 43, and the Mudlarks found themselves 4/80.
The Mudlarks then lost their next six wickets for 28 runs, with the Homers bowling well through Barry Hopper, Finn Arnel, Tim Hopper and Jack Arnel.
Barry Hopper 2/9 (6), Jack Arnel, 2/8 (3), and Finn Arnel 2/4 (2.1) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Homers.
In reply, Finn Arnel and Matt Arnel had the Homers off to a good start, scoring 29 runs between them before Finn Arnel was trapped in front leg before off the bowling for Logan Petering for nine.
Despite losing Chase Kannar for seven, Matt Arnel, Terry Arnel and Tim Hopper ensured the Homers got home, finishing at 3/111 in the 37th over.
Terry Arnel was unbeaten on 48, Matt Arnel made 27 and Hopper was unbeaten on 21.
Seth Callaby was the pick of the Mudlarks bowlers with figures of 2/11 (7).
At Minyip Recreation Reserve, the West Wimerra Warriors upset Laharum by 73 runs.
Laharum headed into the match with 12 wins for the season, and the Warriors 10.
After winning the toss and batting, the Warriors' innings started steadily thanks to Jordan Gurry and Glen Treverton.
They put on 18 runs before Spencer Weir broke through, claiming both for 15 and four respectively, to have the Warriors at 2/28.
The Demons bowlers kept up the pressure, not letting any partnerships form, and the Warriors stumbled to 6/96.
Tim Braendler was batting beautifully at the other end and with Prenzler, put on a 35-run partnership before Prenzler was dismissed for 20, caught by Spencer Weir off the bowling of Matthew Whelan.
Greg Trenery, alongside Braendler, guided the Warriors to 9/148 off their 40 overs, with Braendler unbeaten on 55 and Trenery on 15.
Spencer Weir, 2/13 (7), Josh Hutchinson 2/16 (7) and Darryl Scollary, 2/14 (4) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Demons.
The Warriors bowlers put the Demons batters under pressure, with regular wickets shared throughout the bowling attack, putting the Demons in trouble at 6/37.
Angus Norton and Archie Watt tried to rebuild the Demons' innings. They added 23 runs before Norton fell for 16, caught by Wallace Wheaton off the bowling of Greg Trenery.
The Demons could only manage another 18 runs before Greg Trenery ended the innings, catching Ashley Marra for ten off the bowling of Xavier Bone.
Wallace Wheaton was the pick of the Warriors bowlers with figures of 3/18 (7).
The match's highlight was a stunning throw by Tim Braendler, which wicket-keeper Ashley Dickinson took cleanly, to run out Tim Hofmaier for a diamond duck.
