SWING AND A MISS: Elite Pyers, Blackheath-Dimboola, plays and misses while Horsham Saints fielders Riley Williams, Josh Carroll and wicket-keeper Matt Burns keep a close eye on the ball. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
HORSHAM Saints and Rup-Murtoa will face off in next week's Horsham Cricket Association under-16s grand finals after both sides won their semi-finals in convincing fashion.
The Saints continued their unbeaten season with a dominant win over Blackheath-Dimboola at Sunnyside on Sunday.
Tom McDonald, 3-24, and Conor O'Beirne, 2-4, had days out with the ball to help their side dismiss the Bulls for just 72.
Sam Jasper was Blackheath-Dimboola's best with the bat, top-scoring with 28.
It was a slow and steady run-chase from the Saints, led by Jayden Egan.
Egan, who has made 49 twice this season, finally notched up his maiden half-century.
Riley Williams also hung around in support, making nine off 61 balls.
The Saints passed the target with six wickets in hand.
Rup-Murtoa flexed its muscles against an undermanned West Wimmera.
With a number of West Wimmera players having to leave early to play senior cricket finals, the side was far from its best, slumping to 4-7 when Jake McQueen came to the crease.
McQueen dug deep to give his side hope, scoring an unbeaten 51 to help to assist in the team's respectable total of in excess of 100. Frazer Driscoll also chimed in with 34, while Corey Chenoweth, 4-12, and Max Koschman, 3-8, were the standouts with the ball.
It was fairly uneventful chase for Rup-Murtoa, with emerging opener Mitchell Delahunty carrying his bat to make 46 not out.
Corey Morgan, 31, and Chenoweth, 11 not out, also contributed as the Blue Panthers scored their target with 10 overs to spare and five wickets in hand.
Driscoll worked hard with the ball for the Warriors and finished with brilliant figures of 4-13.
The grand final will be played on March 11 at Horsham City Oval at 10am.
