Interest was rekindled in the 2017/18 West Wimmera Cricket Association season after round seven on Saturday when both of the leading teams were defeated, leaving three of the four teams in the race for the premiership.

Had the top two teams both won, the teams to play off in the grand final next March would have been set, but with these results the Nhill Tigers have confirmed their place, but Kiata and defending champions Jeparit will fight it out over the remaining two rounds to earn the other place.

Winiam can no longer qualify for the final, but by defeating Jeparit on Saturday have proven that they can still have a significant influence on which team does make it.

Winiam defeated Jeparit

At Winiam the home team took advantage of winning the toss and lost only eight wickets on their way to posting a total of 139, dominated by a century by opener Jordan Gurry.

Gurry carried his bat through the innings, finishing not out on 102, and combined with Drew Schneider (17 runs) in an opening partnership of 65 which set up the team total. Ben Bryan was the only other to make double figures with 10.

Jeparit bowler Jeremy Preston took 4 wickets for 26 run off his 8 overs, and Brad Keller, Jack Crowhurst and Adrian King took one wicket each.

Jeremy Preston, pictured above in action two weeks ago against the Nhill Tigers, was Jeparit's best bowler with 4 for 26 on the weekend against Winiam.

Jeparit was on track for another victory at 5 for 112, but the loss of their last five wickets for only 9 runs ended their innings 18 runs short of the target.

Adrian King led the scoring with 40, ahead of opener Brad Keller with 24 and Tim Inkster with 22 whilst Austin Merrett demolished the Redback's lower batting order and finished with 5 wickets for 18 runs off his 8 overs.

Kiata defeated Nhill Tigers

An innings of 64 by Kiata opener Josh Cramer anchored his team's total of 132, with Liam Albrecht contributing 17 and both Josh Lees and Jamie Harding making 14 each.

The Nhill Tigers' bowling was led by Ben Pollock with 3 for 31, with significant contributions by Shane Kessler with 2 for 13 and Mitch Dahlenburg with 2 for 33.

Two early dismissals hampered the Tiger's run chase and although there were a number of batsmen who made solid starts, no one went on to make a big score and when the last wicket fell they were still 19 runs behind.

Both Mitch Dahlenburg and Ritchie Dodds made 20 runs each and Aaron Cramer with 27, Tyson Dickinson with 14 and Lucas Dahlenburg with 13 all contributed to the runs, and Liam Albrecht took four wickets.

The competition will now take a break until February when the last two rounds will be played before the grand final in early March.

With all the remaining games being two day encounters, up to ten points will be available for an outright win on each occasion, with interest now on the fortunes of Jeparit and Kiata, who both still have the opportunity to make the final alongside the Nhill Tigers.

Depending upon results in the first round in the new year, the clash between these two teams in the last round could decide which one proceeds to the final.

Nhill HOME Hardwear West Wimmera Cricket Association Ladder
After 7 of 9 Rounds

     Points %
Nhill Tigers 30 1.190
Jeparit 24 1.016
Kiata 18 1.012
Winiam      12 0.756

Winiam 8/139 defeated Jeparit 121

Winiam First Innings

J Gurry not out    102
D Schneider         b. J Crowhurst      17
B Cramer ct J Crowhurst      b. A King 2
J Wagg lbw b. J Preston 1
T Mattchoss    b. J Preston 2
A Merrett ct A King b. J Preston 0
D Stott    b. J Preston 1
B Quick Run Out    0
B Bryan ct J Crowhurst b. B Keller 10
Sundries not out    3
TOTAL    8 for 139

Jeparit Bowling

        O      M      R      W
G Grinter 3 0 21 0
B Keller 7 1 26 1
J Crowhurst 8 2 21 1
J Knorpp 8 2 13 0
J Preston 8 1 26 4
A King 6 0 31 1

Jeparit First Innings

T James ct J Gurry b. A Merrett 2
B Keller ct D Stott b. J Wagg 24
J Preston Run Out b.    5
L Preston    b. J Gurry 4
A King    b. A Merrett 40
T Inkster      ct T Mattchoss      b. A Merrett 22
J Crowhurst    b. A Merrett 0
S Leach    b. A Merrett 0
M Leach    b. B Cramer 1
H Jamieson ct K Ross b. T Mattchoss      0
G Grinter not out    0
Sundries       17
TOTAL    121

Winiam Bowling

        O      M      R      W
T Mattchoss 6.3 1 13 1
A Merrett 8 2 18 5
J Burry 8 2 31 1
J Wagg      8 0 27 1
B Cramer 7 1 24 1

Kiata 132 defeated Nhill Tigers 113

Kiata First Innings

J Lees ct A Cramer b. L Dahlenburg 14
J Cramer ct S Smith b. L Dahlenburg 64
L Albrecht ct B Pollock b. M Dahlenburg 17
L Croke    b. B Pollock      2
T Alexander    b. B Pollock 3
R Woltjen ct A Cramer b. R Dodds 6
D Colombera    b. B Pollock 0
J Harding ct A Pollock b. S Kessler 14
Shaun Alexander ct T Dickinson      b. D Harris 2
L Marra ct A Cramer b. S Kessler 0
Shanaye Alexander      not out    0
Sundries       10
TOTAL    132

Nhill Tigers Bowling

        O      M      R      W
L Dahlenburg 6 2 9 1
B Pollock      6 0 31 3
A Dickinson 3 1 9 0
M Dahlenburg 8 0 33 2
L Smith 4 0 30 0
R Dodds 2 0 5 1
S Kessler 2 0 13 2
D Harris 0.1 0 0 1

Nhill Tigers First Innings

D Garoni ct J Harding b. L Albrecht 1
L Smith Run Out    9
S Smith ct J Lees b. L Albrecht 0
T Dickinson    b. L Albrecht 14
M Dahlenburg      ct J Lees b. L Croke 20
L Dahlenburg ct J Cramer b. D Colombera      13
S Kessler ct S Alexander b. T Alexander 2
B Pollock ct D Colombera      b. S Alexander 7
A Cramer ct R Woltjen b. J Lees 17
R Dodds not out b.    20
D Haris ct D Colombera b. L Albrecht 1
Sundries    b.    10
TOTAL    113

Kiata Bowling

        O      M      R      W
J Lees 6 0 19 1
L Albrecht 8 2 27 4
T Alexander 8 3 15 1
D Colombera 5 0 15 1
L Croke 5 1 18 1
Shaun Alexander      4 0 16 1