The first team to confirm a place in the West Wimmera Cricket Association grand final is Winiam after registering a 14 run win over Kiata on Saturday, and Jeparit has a very firm grip on the other place following a 129 run victory of reigning premiers, Nhill Tigers.
Jeparit 9/211 (J Preston 94, T Braendler 46, M Dahlenburg 4/4, L Smith 3/23) defeated Nhill Tigers 82 (M Dahlenburg 24, S Graham 18*, L Preston 4/21, B Keller 2/14, J Preston 2/16)
Over the last two Saturday afternoons, the Jeparit players showed what they are capable of when they get both their batting and bowling right in the same game.
After having several contributors with the bat last week, five redback bowlers took wickets and the four others used were able to restrict the batsmen to less than two runs per over each.
Liam Preston was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 21 off 5 overs, followed by both Jeremy Preston and Brad Keller (above) with two each. These latter two bowlers both took wickets with consecutive balls but neither was able to convert the opportunity into a hat trick.
Victor Lothian and Tom Crowhurst shared the remaining two wickets.
Holding three tough catches in the field was also a highlight of the innings.
The best of the Nhill Tigers' batsmen was Mitch Dahlenburg with 24 runs, veteran Steve Graham with 18 not out and Lucas Dahlenburg with 13. No other batsman made it into double figures and there were five "ducks' in the innings.
After taking the first innings points, Jeparit had 16 overs to bat in their second innings and used this opportunity to give some of their middle order batsmen some time in the middle. Liam Preston followed up his top bowling effort with 21 not out and Lothian remained unbeaten on 18.
Brady Alexander opened the bowling and took 2 for 15 to be the only successful bowler in the innings.
Winiam 8/190 (D Webb 61, T Seymour 2/29) defeated Kiata 176 (T Seymour 34, J Cramer 34, L Albrecht 31, J Gurry 3/24, B Marra 2/22, T Driscoll 2/33, B Clark 2/47)
Winiam's march towards the 2016/17 season decider continued with a 14 run win over Kiata on the Nhill College oval.
Needing 191 for the win to increase their chances of qualifying for the final, the Kiata batsmen were able to put together a three partnerships of between 37 and 47 runs, but there were too many combinations that contributed less than ten runs.
At the fall of the last wicket Kiata was still 14 runs short of victory.
Tim Seymour and Josh Cramer both scored 34 runs and Liam Albrecht made 31.
Jordan Gurry took 3 for 24 and Tom Driscoll, Brad Clark and Ben Marra took 2 each.
Round 6
Next week sees the start of the last round of regular games with Winiam hosting the Nhill Tigers at Davis Park in Nhill. They will use this game to fine tune their game for the grand final that they have already qualified for.
The Nhill Tigers can no longer make the final, but as the reigning premiers with only one victory this season, they have pride to play for.
On the Nhill College oval Kiata have nothing to lose when they take on the in-form Jeparit team.
With a win the Highwaymen can draw level on points with the Redbacks but have a far inferior percentage so their only chance of making it to the grand final will be to inflict a heavy defeat, which presents a big challenge given Jeparit's form over recent weeks.
Ladder after Round 5
| Winiam | 24 | 1.183
| | Jeparit | 18 | 1.550
| | Kiata | 12 | 0.773
| | Nhill Tigers | 6 | 0.685
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Round 5 Scores
Jeparit - First Innings - 9 for 211
Nhill Tigers - First Innings
| J Philip | lbw | b. J Preston | 8
| | M Dahlenburg | ct. Sub (J Hutson) | b. L Preston | 24
| | A Dickinson | lbw | b. J Preston | 0
| | L Dahlenburg | ct. T Crowhurst | b. L Preston | 13
| | T Polkinghorne | | b. B Keller | 0
| | R Dodds | | b. B Keller | 0
| | L Smith | st. M Preston | b. L Preston | 5
| | S Graham | Not Out | | 18
| | S Smith | ct. T James | L Preston | 0
| | B Alexander | | V Lothian | 6
| | B Zimmermann | | T Crowhurst | 3
| | Sundries | | | 5
| | TOTAL | | | 82
|
Jeparit Bowling
| | O | - M - | R | - W
| | T Braendler | 6 | - 2 - | 8 | - 0
| | J Preston | 8 | - 1 - | 16 | - 2
| | B Keller | 8 | - 3 - | 14 | - 2
| | L Preston | 5 | - 0 - | 21 | - 4
| | A King | 5 | - 3 - | 7 | - 0
| | V Lothian | 2 | - 0 - | 3 | - 1
| | G Grinter | 5 | - 2 - | 5 | - 0
| | J Crowhurst | 3 | - 1 - | 5 | - 0
| | T Crowhurst | 1.4 | - 0 - | 1 | - 1
|
Jeparit - Second Innings
| V Lothian | Not Out | | 18
| | B Keller | lbw | b. B Alexander | 0
| | T Crowhurst | ct. B Zimmermann | b. B Alexander | 0
| | L Preston | Not Out | | 21
| | Sundries | | | 8
| | TOTAL | | | 2 for 47
|
Nhill Tigers Bowling
| | O | - M - | R | - W
| | B Zimmermann | 4 | - 1 - | 4 | - 0
| | B Alexnader | 4 | - 1 - | 15 | - 2
| | T Polkinghorne | 1 | - 0 - | 6 | - 0
| | S Graham | 1 | - 0 - | 6 | - 0
| | L Smith | 1 | - 0 - | 2 | - 0
| | R Dodds | 1 | - 0 - | 4 | - 0
| | M Dahlenburg | 1 | - 0 - | 2 | - 0
| | S Smith | 1 | - 0 - | 2 | - 0
| | J Philip | 1 | - 0 - | 2 | - 0
| | A Dickinson | 1 | - 0 - | 2 | - 0
|
Winiam - 8 for 190
Kiata
| L Preston | ct. & | b. J Gurry | 3
| | J Lees | lbw | b. T Driscoll | 3
| | T Seymour | ct. P Webb | b. B Cramer | 34
| | L Albrecht | ct. M Purchase | b. B Marra | 31
| | T Alexander | ct. B Cramer | b. B Marra | 22
| | S Mock | ct. T Driscoll | b. J Gurry | 24
| | J Cramer | | b. T Driscoll | 34
| | D Colonbera | | b. B Clark | 0
| | P Hedt | ct. B Clark | b. J Gury | 6
| | J Mock | | b. B Clark | 2
| | S Alexander | Not Out | | 1
| | Sundries | | | 16
| | TOTAL | | | 176
|
Kiata
| | O | - M - | R | - W
| | T Driscoll | 12 | - 2 - | 33 | - 2
| | J Gurry | 10.3 | - 2 - | 24 | - 3
| | B Clark | 12 | - 1 - | 47 | - 2
| | B Cramer | 8 | - 3 - | 18 | - 1
| | A Merrett | 8 | - 1 - | 26 | - 0
| | B Marra | 9 | - 2 - | 22 | - 2
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