Both West Wimmera Warriors teams are in a strong position after the first day of their final games for the season in the Horsham Cricket Association, courtesy of an impressive personal 153 by Mitch Dahlenburg in the A grade, and an encouraging all-round performance in the B grade by both their bowlers and then their opening batsmen.
A Grade
On the Horsham City Oval the A grade Warriors scored their highest total for the season, setting Jung Tigers the challenge of scoring over 300 next Saturday if they are to go into the finals with winning form.
Mitch Dahlenburg’s recent rich run of form continued on Saturday when, not only did he made his fourth score above 50 in his last six innings, but he pushed that out to an impressive 153 before he was run out late in the day.
Above - Mitch Dahlenburg in action last weekend against Horsham Saints in Nhill, where be made 71.
In the process of compiling this score he shared in a second wicket partnership of 211 with Adrian King who also showed some fine batting form with a contribution of 91.
Liam Preston with 23 and Tim Braendler who made 17 were the other significant contributors to the Warriors’ season high total of 311 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of the day’s play.
With such a high total to defend next week, the Warriors are in a prime position to push for only their second win for the season next week.
B Grade
After winning the toss, Jung Tigers took the opportunity to bat first on the Horsham College Dimboola Road Oval, but did not take full advantage of the opportunity as they were soon 3 for 31, with Warriors’ opening bowler Dan Cross taking all three early wickets.
A couple of middle order partnerships in the thirties gave the innings some substance but regular wickets allowed the Warriors to restrict the Tigers to 178 off 49.3 overs.
Fellow opening bowler Todd Alexander also finished with three wickets, as did first change bowler Ruby James. Brayden Purchase took his first wicket in the B grade this season to be the other wicket taker.
With 17 overs remaining the Warriors opening batsmen set about reducing the target for next week, and when Simon Herrmann was the first wicket to fall he had shared a partnership of 125 with his opening partner, Mick Purchase.
Hermann, playing his first game for the season, contributed a solid 75 and although another wicket fell with the score on 125, the Warriors will begin next week on 2 for 128 and only require another 51 runs for their first victory of the season.
Mick Purchase remained not out on 45 and Trevor James is the other not out batsman on 3.
Horsham Cricket Association - A Grade
West Wimmera Warriors First Innings
| M Preston | ct. J Mock | b. J Pymer | 1
| | M Dahlemburg | run out | | 153
| | A King | ct. D Puls | b. J Leith | 91
| | T Braendler | ct. J McLean | b. J Leith | 17
| | J Lees | lbw | b. J Leith | 3
| | L Dahlenburg | | b. J McLean | 1
| | Liam Preston | | b. S Mock | 23
| | J Dahlenburg | not out | | 7
| | B Alexander | not out | | 8
| | Sundries | | | 13
| | TOTAL | | 7 for 311
|
Jung Tigers Bowling
| | O | M | R | W
| | M Mbofana | 16 | 3 | 52 | 0
| | C Midgley | 11 | 2 | 46 | 1
| | A Carter | 10 | 0 | 50 | 3
| | J Weidermann | 14 | 2 | 46 | 1
| | B Turner | 9 | 1 | 51 | 0
| | M Mbofana | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0
| | C Midgley | 7 | 0 | 34 | 0
| | A Carter | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0
| | J Weidermann | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1
| | B Turner | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0
| | B Turner | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0
|
Horsham Cricket Association - B Grade
Jung Tigers Innings
| A Wright | ct. T Alexander | b. D Cross | 0
| | C Eagle | | b. D Cross | 19
| | L Sonego | | b. D Cross | 0
| | C Bald | | b. T Alexander | 33
| | D Dridan | | b. T Alexander | 5
| | J Pucek | hit wicket | b. T Alexander | 0
| | J Pymer | ct. B Purchase | b. R James | 41
| | S Smith | not out | | 52
| | C Meybery | | b. R James | 3
| | J Frost | lbw | b. R James | 3
| | N Sonego | notout | b. B Purchase | 0
| | Sundries | | | 22
| | TOTAL | | 178
|
West Wimmera Warriors Bowling
| | O | M | R | W
| | D Cross | 19 | 2 | 59 | 3
| | T Alexander | 21 | 3 | 68 | 3
| | R James | 6 | 1 | 24 | 3
| | S Hermann | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0
| | B Purchase | 2.3 | 0 | 12 | 1
|
West Wimmera Warriors First Innings
| M Purchase | not out | | 45
| | S Herrmann | | b. J Pucek | 75
| | B Purchase | | b. J Pucek | 0
| | T James | not out | | 3
| | Sundries | | | 6
| | TOTAL | | 2 for 128
|
Jung Tigers Bowling
| | O | M | R | W
| | S Smith | 5 | 0 | 29 | 0
| | J Frost | 5 | 1 | 38 | 0
| | L Sonego | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0
| | C Maybery | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0
| | J Pucek | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2
|
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