By Colin MacGillivray

A combined 24 wickets fell at Horsham City Oval on Saturday as West Wimmera and Noradjuha-Toolondo bowlers had a day out in the first of Horsham Cricket Association’s two-day matches for 2024-25.

The ladder-leading Warriors were sent in by the Bullants after losing the toss, and while opener Brad Alexander made a team-high 32, his fellow top-order batsmen struggled to generate runs.

Fellow opener Jobe Dickinson was caught off the bowling of Jordan McDonald for one run, with the next three in the West Wimmera line-up – Jeremy Weeks, Josh Lees and Nathan Alexander – contributing just one run between them as McDonald and Matt Combe did plenty of damage.

Brodie Cramer dug in for a hard-earned 17 off 58 balls, but was undone by a caught-and-bowled effort from Noradjuha-Toolondo’s Tony Caccaviello.

When Bullant Tim Crick chimed in with two late wickets, the visitors were all out for 92 in less than 33 overs.

Keeping the high-scoring West Wimmera bats quiet was an impressive achievement, but Noradjuha-Toolondo struggled to consolidate its good work when its time at the crease came.

A succession of Bullant batters struggled to deal with the bowling of Nathan Alexander, who matched Caccaviello with his own caught-and-bowled to finish with five wickets.

Only two Noradjuha-Toolondo players reached double-digit totals as the team was bowled out for 60 in 29 overs, putting West Wimmera back in to bat with a handy first-innings lead of 32.

But the wickets continued to tumble, with Jordan McDonald again bowling well to the Warriors’ top order to remove both Dickinson and Brad Alexander leg before wicket, while Combe had Weeks and Lees for ducks.

At stumps the Warriors were 4-21 with a 53-run lead and Nathan Alexander and Brodie Cramer at the crease.

Elsewhere, Laharum posted a commanding first-innings total of 236 against Horsham Tigers.

Ben Peucker starred at number three, making 127 at nearly a run a ball, while Joel Pymer made a handy 36 in the middle order.

Tyler and David Puls did the majority of the damage for the Tigers, claiming four and three wickets respectively.

After 29 overs the Tigers were 4-70 in reply, with Angus Adams unbeaten on 24.

A desire to play two-day cricket was behind Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills’ move to the Horsham Cricket Association this season, and the Eagles made a good start against reigning premier Homers at Brim.

The Eagles sent the Pigeons in, and though they struggled to break the opening partnership of Adam Atwood, 27, and Luke Miller, 18, wickets began to tumble once Lachlan McGinniss brought Miller undone in the 15th over.

Atwood followed three overs later, and thereafter only Ben Williamson, 17, reached double digits as three Pigeons were out for ducks. Charlie Dean was on target with 4-37, with McGinniss taking 3-27 and Jeremy Preston a miserly 2-6 from seven overs as Homers were all out for 90.

By stumps the Eagles were 5-122 in reply, with opener Leigh Dovaston, 37, and skipper Isaac McPherson, 30, helping their side to a 32-run first-innings lead.

At Coughlin Park, Horsham Saints took a slow and steady approach against Colts, batting 44 overs to reach 5-106 before rain stopped play, with the visiting Colts yet to bat.

Young opener Dezi Carter produced an impressive innings of 42, while captain Gary Davidson was unbeaten on 22.

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