Sport
29 January, 2023
Rup-Minyip closes gap on top two
RUP/MINYIP has closed to within a game of a top two berth in Horsham Cricket Association after claiming victory on Saturday. Victory over Jung Tigers saw the Combine stretch its lead over fourth-placed Homers and set its sights on claiming a berth...
RUP/MINYIP has closed to within a game of a top two berth in Horsham Cricket Association after claiming victory on Saturday.
Victory over Jung Tigers saw the Combine stretch its lead over fourth-placed Homers and set its sights on claiming a berth in the top two.
Homers fell short in a run chase against ladder leader West Wimmera Warriors as teams prepare for the final three rounds of the home and away season.
At City Oval, Jung Tigers put up a brave fight on the back of a Jake Durdin rearguard innings, but was never going to pass the imposing of 314 runs set by the Combine on the opening day of round 12.
Rup-Minyip struck early during the Jung innings and reduced the batting team to 4-34 as opening paceman Brent Hudson tore through the top order, claiming the first four wickets to fall.
Hudson had opener Brenton Hallam and number three Levi Mock back in the pavilion for six and four respectively before adding Connor Lawson, nine, and Angus Adams, six, to his figures in a big opening with the new cherry.
Jung skipper Tyler Puls then dug in to stop the flow of wickets and when joined by Durdin, the pair put together a steadying partnership of 47 before Puls was dismissed for 18.
His innings came off 72 balls as he held firm against the Combine’s attack looking to run through the middle and lower order.
But Durdin had other ideas and took the attack to the bowlers, sharing some key partnerships including a 60-run stand for the seventh wicket with David Puls who made an entertaining 35 which came off 31 balls.
Durdin continued to work the ball through the field before his innings came to a close on 82 when he became Hudson’s fifth victim of the innings.
Durdin hit seven boundaries during his 89-ball stay at the wicket and took the score to 182 at the fall of his wicket.
Simon Anstis made 20 in a 38-run 10th wicket stand as Jung was bowled out for 210 off 65.2 overs.
Hudson was a standout with the ball and finished with impressive figures of 6-34 off 17.2 overs, while Gavin Young claimed 2-32 off 11 overs.
At Sunnyside, West Wimmera Warriors produced a strong bowling performance to defend its total of 182 when they bowled Homers out for 150 in 72.1 overs.
Resuming the day at 2-30, Homers lost overnight batsman Hugh Dougherty for three before Luke Deutscher joined Paddy Mills for a 60-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Deutscher made 34 before the Warriors claimed the key wicket of Mills for a top score of 45 and left the batting team struggling at 5-97.
Mills faced 141 balls through his innings, facing some tight bowling from Brad Alexander and Jeremy Weeks who teamed to put the squeeze on the batting line-up.
Homers continued to work hard for its runs with Simon Hopper making 22 and Baxter Perry chiming in with 15 but Homers lost three wickets for just one run to be reduced to 9-129 before a 10th wicket stand of 21.
Weeks finished the best of the bowling attack to claim 4-16 off 12 overs, while Nathan Alexander finished with 3-43 off 22.1 overs and Brad Alexander claimed 2-37 off 20 tidy overs.
This weekend’s round 13 will see the Warriors sit out a bye as Homers and Rup-Minyip face off in a key battle for respective positions in the top four.
Bullants will make their first appearance for the new year when they return to City Oval for a home clash against Jung Tigers.
Saturday’s B Grade matches saw Laharum enter the top four at the expense of Rup-Minyip after proving too strong for Blackheath-Dimboola.
The battle determined who claimed fourth place and it was Laharum to the tune of 74 runs on first innings.
After bowling out the Bulls for 80 in its first innings, Laharum resumed at 5-110 on Saturday and took their score to 154 before sending the Bulls in for a second time.
Skipper Daniel Griffiths, 11, and Xavier Shevlin, five, resumed at the wicket on day two with Griffiths going on to make 32, while Damien Bunworth added a quickfire 18 from 17 balls.
For the Bulls, Daniel Collins finished with impressive figures of 4-16 from 11 overs, while opening pair Brenden Marrs and Elliot Braithwaite claimed two wickets each.
Blackheath-Dimboola returned the wicket for a second innings as Laharum took a shot at outright victory, but with just 20 overs remaining, the Bulls were able to hold their opponent at bay and finished the day at 3-49.
Skipper Sam Polack remained unbeaten on 26 and Braithwaite was unconquered on 13.
Horsham Saints has put a game and a half break on third-placed Colts after claiming victory on first innings.
The Saints set Colts 189 runs for victory and made the perfect start with the ball in defence, claiming the first five wickets for just 19 runs before winning by 49 runs dismissing the batting team for 139.
Daniel Lawson and Kevin Purchase each made 35 to top score for Colts, while Dylan Arnott made 25.
Saints opening paceman Brock Hamerston claimed 3-30 off 12 overs, teaming well with Josh Carroll who finished with 3-14 from five overs.
Bullants has dominated its clash with Jung Tigers, coming within one wicket of claiming outright points in their clash at the Dimboola Road Oval.
Defending 261, Bullants dismissed Jung for 73 in its first innings before finishing just short of outright victory as Jung hung on in the second innings to finish at 9-91.
Bullants’ Josh Beddison enjoyed a big day with the ball claiming 7-12 off 5.5 overs in the first innings before backing up in the second innings to finish with 5-22 off nine overs.
Tomorrow will see Colts and Laharum play for third spot, while Blackheath-Dimboola will welcome Horsham Saints to the Dimboola Reserve, Rup-Minyip will welcome Jung and Lubeck-Murtoa and Bullants will do battle at Murtoa.
Tomorrow will also see the return of C Grade matches where Laharum will play West Wimmera Warriors at Cameron Oval, Natimuk will welcome Blackheath-Dimboola at the Showgrounds, Lubeck-Murtoa will host Homers, Jung will host Quantong at Dimboola Road Oval and Horsham Saints will welcome Colts to Coughlin Park.