The grand final of the West Wimmera Cricket Association was played out in near perfect conditions on Nhill's Davis Park over the weekend, with Jeparit holding their nerve to win their sixth title in this competition.

Winiam went into the game full of confidence after losing only once during the regular season, to Jeparit back in round 2, whilst Jeparit had only dropped the return game with Winiam and one other, to Kiata before Christmas.

Even at the end of play on the first day many observers gave Winiam the best chance of taking the title after restricting Jeparit to 119 and having already scored 8 of those runs without the loss of a wicket when stumps were drawn.

After winning the toss on Saturday Tim Braendler, the Jeparit captain, had no hesitation taking the opportunity to set a target with the bat. This has been a profitable tactic in recent grand finals, where even small totals of just over the century have proven to be defendable under the pressure of a season decider.

The Redbacks appeared to have the luck running their way when opener Adrian King edged a ball to slips which was not taken, but the Winiam bowlers then settled into a steady rhythm and were not only able to significantly restrict the flow of runs, but were also taking regular wickets.

Pressure built on the batsmen as opening bowler Tom Driscoll did not concede a run against his name until his ninth over, by which time he had taken four wickets of his eventual total of 5 for 16 off 12 overs.

Quick singles were at a premium at Davis Park on the weekend but Jeparit's Jeremy Preston (Above) was able to make a few in his innings of 26.

At the other end his opening partner Jordan Gurry only gave away 6 runs from his 6 overs and second change bowler Brad Clark took 2 for 17 off 12 overs.

Austin Merrett's figures suffered a little when the lower order hit out late in the innings but he still finished with 2 for 42 off 10.4 overs.

Association Cricketer of the Year Jeremy Preston endured the tight bowling and had made 26 runs when he was the fourth wicket to fall, and his brother Michael contributed a valuable 28 in the middle order.

Liam Preston made 14 after coming in at number 9 and was able to see the team pass the century mark. When he was the last batsman dismissed Jeparit had struggled to a total of 119 from 55 overs.

As they did not bat for their entire allotted overs, Winiam had the opportunity to begin their run chase with five overs on Saturday evening, and had reduced the target by 8 when stumps were called.

The victory target of 120 looked to be easy to overhaul if Winiam could survive the full 60 overs available to them, but the Jeparit players were determined to prove that they could play disciplined cricket and defend a small total.

Both Winiam opening batsmen had been dismissed by the time the team had scored 14, but Dylan Webb (15) and Brad Clark (28) combined for a 41 run partnership, and Clark in particular was gaining confidence with each stroke and showing the form that could have taken the game away from Jeparit.

Two balls after a brief delay in play Clarke edged a delivery from Michael Preston which was taken by wicketkeeper Adrian King, and although Winiam were still in a comfortable position at 3 for 55, this wicket began a disciplined bowling and fielding display by the Redbacks which resulted in them taking 8 wickets for only 14 runs to conclude the innings and take a 50 run lead on the first innings.

Michael Preston led the onslaught with 6 for 15 off 10 overs, Jeremy Preston took 3 for 24 and Braendler had taken the important first wicket.

With 29 overs of play still available, Winiam sent Jeparit back to the crease hoping to dismiss them quickly and go for the outright.

Driscoll once again dominated the bowling and did not concede a run from his 5 overs whilst taking one wicket.

Even at 2 for 13, the Jeparit batsmen stayed focussed on batting out the overs and denying their opponent any realistic opportunity to push for an unlikely victory.

Jeremy Preston anchored the innings and finished not out on 23 when stumps were drawn with 7 overs remaining.

Michael Preston finished the game with 6 wickets and 28 runs and Jeremy contributed 49 runs over Jeparit's two innings and took 3 wickets.

For Winiam, Tom Driscoll was the stand out player with a total of 6 wickets for 16 runs off 17 overs.

After enduring a loss in the corresponding game last season, this was a sweet victory for the Jeparit team which gives them their sixth West Wimmera premiership, moving them one title ahead of Winiam on the all time premiership list.


West Wimmera Cricket Association 2016/17 Premiers - Jeparit

(back from left) Victor Lothian, Adrian King, Michael Preston, Tim Braendler (captain), Brad Keller, Liam Preston, Steven Leach, Jeremy Preston
(front) Trevor James, Tom Crowhurst, Graham Grinter, Jack Crowhurst, Jason Hutson.


This was the fourth time since Jeparit joined the competition in 1961 that these two teams had met in the ultimate game of the season, and Jeparit has been victorious on three of these occasions.

Although the competition only featured four teams this season after Rainbow withdrew due to a lack of players, Association officials are confident that Rainbow will return next season, and there are already plans being discussed to increase the amount of cricket to be played.



West Wimmera Cricket Association 2016/17 Grand Final
Played at Davis Park, Nhill, on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March 2017.

Jeparit First Innings

A King ct. M Purchase      b. T Driscoll      1
J Preston ct. B Marra b. A Merrett 26
T James ct. G Eastwell b. T Driscoll 0
T Braendler      lbw b. B Clark 4
M Preston ct. B Marra b. T Driscoll 28
V Lothian ct. M Purchase b. T Driscoll 13
B Keller ct. M Purchase b. T Driscoll 11
J Hutson      b. B Clark 1
L Preston ct. B Clark b. A Merrett 14
J Crowhurst      b. B Cramer 0
G Grinter not out      2
Sundries           19
TOTAL           119

Winiam Bowling

     O - M - R - W
T Driscoll 12 - 6 - 16 - 5
J Gurry 6 - 3 - 6 - 0
B Cramer 10 - 2 - 18 - 1
B Clark 12 - 5 - 17 - 2
A Merrett      10.4 - 2 - 42 - 2
B Marra 4 - 0 - 16 - 0


Winiam First Innings

M Purchase      ct. J Preston      b. M Preston      10
B Cramer ct. A King b. T Braendler 2
D Webb      b. M Preston 15
B Clark ct. A King b. M Preston 28
B Marra lbw b. J Preston 3
A Merrett lbw b. J Preston 4
T Driscoll      b. M Preston 0
S Launer      b. M Preston 3
J Gurry ct. A King b. M Preston 2
H Jones ct. A King b. J Preston 0
B Quick not out      0
Sundries           2
TOTAL           69

Jeparit Bowling

     O - M - R - W
J Preston 13.2 - 3 - 24 - 3
T Braendler 9 - 6 - 11 - 1
M Preston 10 - 2 - 15 - 6
T Crowhurst      1 - 0 - 8 - 0
V Lothian 1 - 0 - 9 - 0


Jeparit Second Innings

A King ct. B Clark b. T Driscoll      0
J Preston not out      23
T James lbw b. B Clark 3
T Braendler      ct. T Driscoll      b. B Cramer 16
M Preston not out      0
Sundries           7
TOTAL           3 for 51

Winiam Bowling

     O - M - R - W
T Driscoll 5 - 5 - 0 - 1
A Merrett      4 - 2 - 7 - 0
B Clark 5 - 1 - 11 - 1
B Marra 2 - 1 - 4 - 0
B Cramer 3 - 1 - 18 - 1
J Gurry 3 - 2 - 5 - 0