The B grade Bulls faced the Bullants, an opponent they have found challenging this season having already lost to them twice, but they were not daunted by this statistic when they met at Dudley Cornell Park in Horsham over the weekend.
The Bullants set the tempo of the game when they chose to bat first after winning the toss on Saturday, and looked to be building a strong position when they were 3 for 132.
The flurry of wickets that followed saw they lose 7 wickets for just 17 runs, to be dismissed for a team total of 149 off 68 overs.
In an impressive performance in the field with may contributors, Harry Young took four wickets, Elliott Braithwaite and Brodie Cramer took three each, and Daniel Polack took three catches.
On Sunday afternoon Blackheath-Dimboola set about chasing down this total, with a place in the grand final as the incentive.
Scores in the twenties by each of the first four batsmen set the foundations of the innings which the later batsmen built upon to overhaul their target in 67 overs.
The highest score for the innings was recorded by Young who added 29 runs to his haul of wickets, and he was well assisted by Trent McGough (23), Cramer (22) and Sam Polack (21).
With this win, the Bulls will now take on Colts at Dudley Cornell Park in Horsham over Saturday and Sunday next weekend to play for their first B grade premiership since 2015/16, and it is anticipated that a large contingent of Dimboola supporters will make the trip to Horsham to encourage the local team.
Despite Colts having the best of their two encounters so far this season, including two weeks ago in the last regular season game, the locals should be full on confidence, having overcome the same record against their semi final opponent.
If the team plays at their best they can bring home another premiership for one of the most successful combined clubs in the competition, with 32 premierships between the Blackheath and Dimboola clubs, including two since the merger, over all three senior grades.
The A grade premiership will be fought out between Homers and Jung Tigers on the Horsham City Oval as a two day game next Saturday and Sunday.
Horsham Cricket Association - B Grade Semi Final
Bullants Innings
| J Combe | ct. D Polack | b. H Young | 27
| | K Hair | ct. M McGough | b. E Braithwaite | 12
| | B Anson | ct. D Polack | b. H Young | 49
| | J McDonald | ct. E Braithwaite | b. B Cramer | 27
| | J Schmidt | ct. S Polack | b. H Young | 14
| | B Wills | | b. B Cramer | 0
| | B Penny | | b. H Young | 6
| | J Heard | ct. D Polack | b. B Cramer | 5
| | H Land | | b. E Braithwaite | 1
| | S Mckenry | not out | & | 4
| | C Gellatly | lbw | b. E Braithwaite | 0
| | Sundries | | | 4
| | TOTAL | | 149
|
Blackheath-Dimboola Bowling
| | O | M | R | W
| | R Sommers | 19 | 3 | 43 | 0
| | E Braithwaite | 14 | 6 | 20 | 3
| | H Young | 19 | 5 | 48 | 4
| | B Cramer | 15 | 4 | 34 | 3
| | S Polack | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
|
Blackheath-Dimboola Innings
| H Young | ct. J Heard | b. J McDonald | 29
| | T McGough | | b. B Wills | 23
| | S Polack | ct. J Schmidt | b. J Combe | 21
| | B Cramer | lbw | b. B Anson | 22
| | M McGough | ct. K Hair | b. J McDonald | 2
| | E Braithwaite | lbw | b. B Anson | 10
| | D Polack | ct. B Wills | b. J Combe | 12
| | D McDonald | ct. J McDonald | b. B Anson | 11
| | H Mibus | not out | | 7
| | R Sommers | not out | | 2
| | Sundries | | | 12
| | TOTAL | | 8 for 151
|
Bullants Bowling
| | O | M | R | W
| | H Lang | 12 | 4 | 25 | 0
| | M McDonald | 11 | 3 | 21 | 2
| | J Heard | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0
| | J Combe | 23 | 9 | 34 | 2
| | B Wills | 5 | 1 | 11 | 1
| | B Penny | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0
| | J Schmidt | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0
| | B Anson | 11 | 1 | 27 | 3
|
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