Cricket
3 March, 2025
Panthers claim B-grade premiership
The Rupanyup/Minyip Panthers have defeated the Horsham Tigers by 45 runs at Dudley Cornell Park on Sunday, March 2, to win the Horsham Cricket Association B-grade premiership.
After losing the toss and being sent into bat, the Panthers made a solid start with Hugh Weidemann and Brent Hudson putting on a 31-run opening stand.
Weidemann was the first to fall, caught by Nigel Binney off the bowling of Tom Iredell-Burke, and not long after, Scott McCurdy was run out by Chris Eagle which saw the Panthers fall to 2/47.
Brent Hudson and Jarvis Mitchell provided a crucial 39-run partnership before Dale Dridan trapped Hudson for LBW for 39.
At 3/86, Wilson Mitchell came to the crease and contributed 16 off 12 balls before being run-out by Amrit B.K.
Ryder Hudson then contributed 17 before Codi Kenny caught him off the bowling of Ryder Hudson and then Mitchell fell shortly after for 37.
At the score of 6/141, Seth Talbot and Leigh Funcke came to the crease and guided the Panthers to 6/197 off their 40 overs, with both scoring an unbeaten 25.
Dale Dridan was the pick of the Tigers bowlers with figures of 1/19 (4).
In reply, the Tigers got off to a steady start with Scott Marks and Callum Jackson forming a 23-run opening stand before Jackson was caught by Wilson Mitchell off the bowling of Jack McKenzie for six.
Janith Herath and Scott Marks then put on a partnership of 27 until Marks was caught and bowled by Jake McKenzie for 28.
Chris Eagle was then next to fall, caught by Hugh Weidemann off the bowling of Leigh Funcke for seven.
At 3/64, Codi Kenny came to the crease and batted well with Herath, as they put on another 31 runs before Herath was bowled by Leigh Funcke for 34.
Funcke then picked up the prized wicket of Kenny, caught by Scott McCurdy for 28, and the Tigers were suddenly in trouble at 5/113.
Hugh Weidemann was given the ball, and on the second ball of his first over, he bowled Nigel Binney for four. The dominoes started to fall in what would be a terrific spell of bowling from the youngster.
On the first ball of his third over, he took the wicket of Dale Dridan, caught by Jarvis Mitchell.
In Weidemann's fourth over, he took the wickets of Tom Iredell-Burke and Nigel Binney, and then in his fifth, the game was sealed with Cody Stewart run-out by Leigh Funcke for six.
Gavin Brown remained unbeaten on 21.
Hugh Weidemann was named man of the match with his impressive figures of 4/9 (5.1), one maiden, one catch and seven runs with the bat.
Weidemann said he just wanted to aim at the stumps.
"I tried to aim it at the stumps and bowl consistently, and managed to take a few wickets which is good," Weidemann said.
"I am happy with my form and didn't bowl any bad balls.
"It's pretty good to be able to contribute to a premiership winning side as I didn't go well with the bat, so to get wickets and take a catch was good."
Last season, the one-day premiership eluded the Panthers, and now that they have won it this season, the focus now turns to trying to claim back-to-back two-day premierships over the next two weeks.
After finishing on top of the ladder, they play the Bullants at Coughlin Park this coming weekend in the semi-finals and Weidemann said it will be a tough match.
"We can't get too ahead of ourselves as they have some excellent players," Weidemann said.
"We will treat them with respect and hopefully we can play as well as we did today."
