By DEAN LAWSON

Horsham Cricket Association’s management board has pushed its big Sunday of T20 finals forward a week in the wake of the State Government COVID-19 lockdown.

Association secretary Josh Mahony said the games would go ahead this week after Premier Daniel Andrews lifted the lockdown from Wednesday night.

The lockdown forced the cancellation of all cricket last weekend, forcing the posponement  the A, B and C grade games at Horsham City Oval. The finals will culminate with an A Grade clash between Homers and Jung Tigers.

“We look forward to seeing the local community support our T20 finals,” Mr Mahony said.

The ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown forced officials to abandon a senior representative game between Horsham and Warrnambool teams, previously scheduled for this Sunday.

Horsham association also declared last week’s domestic games a draw, awarding teams three points each.

Home-and-away games will go ahead as planned this Saturday, Noradjuha-Toolondo will take on Homers in a ripping encounter, Horsham Saints will meet West Wimmera and Rupanyup-Minyip will take on Jung Tigers in a critical match.

The clash between the Tigers and Blue Panthers looms a major showdown with Rupanyup-Minyip trailing the fourth-placed Tigers by a game but ahead by percentage.

If the Tigers win they will go close to cementing a season-proper finals berth, but a Blue Panthers victory will add fresh spice to the finals run and potentially send the Jungsters tumbling.

Noradjuha-Toolondo, meanwhile, is setting the pace but only marginally ahead of perennial powerhouse team Homers.

The Bullants lead the Pigeons by only three points, which means top spot is up for grabs in their 40-over-a-side contest.

West Wimmera is sitting third, on equal points with the Tigers, and victory over the Saints would consolidate their hold on a top-four spot.

But the Saints can be hard to beat, especially if their batsmen can exploit more overs at the crease, and an upset victory would send the Westerners into a three-way dogfight on the fringe of the four.

The association has tentatively pencilled in March 13 for its presentation night.

This week: Saturday: One-day games, Noradjuha-Toolondo v Homers at Horsham City Oval, Horsham  Saints v West Wimmera at Coughlin Park in Horsham, Rupanyup-Minyip v Jung Tigers at Minyip. Sunday: T20 finals at Horsham City Oval, C Grade, Quantong v Colts; B Grade, Laharum v Lubeck-Murtoa; A Grade, Homers v Jung Tigers.

Last week: Home and away, abandoned.

Ladder: Overall, Noradjuha-Toolondo 51 points, 1.07 percent; Homers 48, 1.63; West Wimmera 39, 1.19; Jung Tigers 39, 0.95; Rupanyup-
Minyip 33, 1.04; Horsham Saints 6, 0.44.

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