WEST Wimmera is one win away from the Warrnambool Junior Under-17s division one title after a gutsy 24-run victory over South West Cricket Association yesterday.
The visitors posted a mammoth 3-241 on the back of an unbeaten 120 from Heath Preston.
Preston put on an 181-run opening stand with Mitch Dahlenburg, 72, to make life difficult for their opponents.
South West made 8-217 in reply, with Darcy Preston, 4-25, the pick of the West Wimmera bowlers.
Team manager David Jensz said he was delighted with the performance from his charges.
"It's a great thing for a small association like ourselves to make it through to the final," he said.
"These kids have been fantastic and it has been a pretty good team effort."
Standing in West Wimmera's way of an under-17s premiership is an unbeaten Warrnambool Gold side which dismissed Portland District Cricket Association for 53 yesterday.
South West will play Hamilton District Cricket Association in today's Horsham Under-15s Junior Country Week final at Horsham City Oval.
South West edged out Mt Gambier District Cricket Association in a thriller at Dudley Cornell Park yesterday to book its spot.
Henry Green, 56, scored a timely half-century to lead his side to victory with two overs to spare.
Hamilton got through with its fourth-straight win in a close affair against Warrnambool Blue at Sunnyside. Wimmera-Mallee made it two in a row, defeating Portland District Cricket Association by 25 runs.
Dylan McGee was the hero with the bat and ball, scoring 49 and taking 4-15 off seven overs.
It has been a tough week for the Horsham Cricket Association under-17s and under-15s, with both sides going through the first four days without a win.
The under-17s came within nine runs of upsetting red-hot favourites Warrnambool Gold on Wednesday, thanks to a brilliant batting display from Jacob O'Beirne, 60, and Blake Young, 31.
Chasing 165 for victory, Horsham was bowled out in the final over of the day for 155.
Warrnambool Blue dismissed Horsham for 55 yesterday on its way to a six-wicket hiding.
Josh Carroll tried his heart out for Horsham to take 3-13.
For more on Country Week, see today's Mail-Times.