Big wins by the local teams in the A and B grades, and a tight result in the C grade highlighted the fifth round of the Horsham Cricket Association season on Saturday.

The West Wimmera Warriors built on their good form from last week, with wins to both the A and C grade teams.

A Grade - West Wimmera Warriors 215 (B Alexander 122, M Dahlenburg 115, W Wheaton 20) defeated Lubeck-Murtoa Mudlarks 91 (J Weeks 4/36, X Bone 3/23) by 124 runs at Murtoa

The A grade travelled to Murtoa to take on the Mudlarks and were asked to bat first.

The first wicket to fall was Jobe Dickinson (6) when the team total was 14, which brought Mitch Dahlenburg (115) to the crease to join opener Brad Alexander (122), who then combined for a partnership of 201 to take the total to 215.

After Alexander’s dismissal, Wallace Wheaton contributed a quick 20 from 18 balls in a partnership of 54 for the third wicket.

** The draw for the next round was correct as per the Horsham Cricket Association’s PlayHQ website at the time of publishing this article. **

Some solid batting at the end of the innings took the total to 284 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 45 overs.

Some tight bowling when the Warriors took to the field kept the Lubeck-Murtoa scoring in check, and as wickets fell regularly they fell off the pace, and their innings finished on 91 and the end of the 27th over, giving the Warriors a victory by

Jeremy Weeks was the leading bowler with 4 wickets for 36 runs, and Xavier Bone took 3 for 23. Jobe Dickinson took two wickets and Nathan Alexander one.

C Grade - West Wimmera Warriors 9/115 (A Dickinson 38, P Rogers 21, T Braendler 16, J Gurry 15) defeated Laharum 109 (R Schneider 2/2, T Braendler 2/8, C Gebert 2/10, R Gebert 2/14) by 6 runs at Davis Park

In a much closer game on Davis Park, the C grade Warriors held their nerve to record another close win by six runs over Laharum.

The home team set a total of 115 from their forty overs, with Ash Dickinson anchoring the innings with 38, but received support from Patrick Rogers (21), Tim Braendler (16) and Jordan Gurry (15).

At just three wickets down for 50, Laharum was on track to overhaul their target, but with only one more partnership that made it into double figures, they fell six runs short of victory.

Nine players were given the opportunity to bowl, and six of them shared the spoils. Rylan Schneider (2/2), Tim Braendler (2/8), Cooper Gebert (2/10), and Riley Gebert (2/14) took two wickets each, and Jordan Gurry and Glen Treverton took one each.

A Grade – Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills 7/235 (J Preston 69, I McPherson 50, M McPherson 42*) defeated Tigers 9/134 (I McPherson 3/19) by 101 runs at Horsham City Oval

B Grade – Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills 5/212 (J Collinson 93*, G Holland 49*, E Schilling 19, B Schilling 17) defeated Quantong 9/59 (B Schilling 5/8, E Schilling 2/28) by 153 runs at Brim

The A grade Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills team remains undefeated in their debut season in the competition after easily defending a total of 7 for 235 by 101 runs against the Tigers,, and in the B grade, they recorded a 153-run victory over Quantong to remain in third place on the ladder.

Next Saturday will see the new team, Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills, pay their first visit to Davis Park, where they will attempt to keep their perfect 2024/25 record intact, but the Warriors are in impressive form, which should make for a great game of cricket.

The B grade Eagles will host the Panthers at Brim, and the C grade Warriors will take on the Murtoa-Lubeck Mudlarks on the Lubeck ground.

** The draw for the next round was correct as per the Horsham Cricket Association’s PlayHQ website at the time of publishing this article. **