AN UNBEATEN start to the Horsham Cricket Association B Grade season is on the line for Rup-Minyip against Lubeck-Murtoa at Murtoa on Saturday.
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A low-scoring, fast-paced first day on Saturday saw the home side snatch the advantage behind some brilliant bowling from Brett McKenzie.
Twelve overs was all McKenzie needed to single-handedly tear through the Rup-Minyip line-up.
He claimed 7-25 with four maidens and delivered virtually every key wicket for his side.
After Lubeck-Murtoa made a first-innings total of just 73, McKenzie removed Blue Panther openers Matthew Downer and Blake Young for eight and 11 runs respectively.
He dismissed Nicholas Hudson and the dangerous Gavin Young for ducks and kept the visitors to a paltry 36 runs.
McKenzie has figures of 11-62 for the season from 28 overs.
Heath Lang and Graeme Reddie were the other wicket-takers.
Hamish Gawith helped Lubeck-Murtoa to 5-64 in its second innings at the close of play for a 101-run advantage.
An outright win on Saturday would see the visitors leapfrog Rup-Minyip for top spot on the ladder and if McKenzie can replicate Saturday’s heroics, it is within reach.
Horsham Saints have a testing run-chase ahead against Jung Tigers at Taylors Lake on Saturday.
The Saints chased down Jung’s 144 runs in their round one meeting but will need something more substantial on Saturday.
A solid bottom-order revival took the Tigers to 9-243 at the weekend, setting the Saints a big chase.
The Saints are yet to score more than 200 runs in an innings this season.
In C Grade competition, Horsham Saints and Colts will each have a chance to climb off the bottom of the ladder when they meet at Dudley Cornell Park.
The Saints have one of the better percentages in the competition but are languishing near the bottom with just two wins from seven matches.
The Colts also have two wins, but a bye has given them extra points and they sit one spot in front of the Saints.
Both are coming off wins from the weekend.
It will be a battle of second versus third when Homers host Laharum at Holy Trinity Lutheran School.
The Pigeons have won their past four matches and will start favourite.
Blackheath-Dimboola will try to arrest a two-match slump and preserve a place in the top four when it travels to Quantong, while Natimuk-Goroke hosts Noradjuha-Toolondo.
Jung Tigers have a bye.
