IT WILL be a tough day for the sides chasing on day two of the Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade competition.
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Blackheath-Dimboola needs to conjure up 224 runs to defeat Jung Tigers at Horsham City Oval.
The side’s early season form has depended largely on captain Lachie Watts, with cameo efforts from the likes of Hamish Exell.
Exell returns to the side this week after being unavailable on day one and will be an important boost to the side.
David Puls will be a significant road-block in the chase.
His form has seen him snare 11 wickets in the first five rounds and he will welcome the second day inclusion of Jeremy Pietsch.
The pair have combined well as an opening combination with the ball and will need to again on what captain Tyler Neville described as a “flat wicket” after the first day’s play.
A Blackheath-Dimboola win would see the side move two wins clear of Jung, which currently sits fifth on the A Grade ladder.
A Jung win would be its first since round one, but would be enough to lift it ahead of the opposition into fourth spot on the ladder as the halfway mark of the season approaches.
For a second round in a row the Homers bowling attack will go into Saturday with little pressure on its shoulders thanks to a mammoth effort with the bat from its top-order.
A down-on-confidence Laharum side faces the unenviable task of chasing down 383 to win in the space of 75 overs.
The first session of the day will largely determine how the match pans out.
If Homers can pick up the key early wickets of captain Daniel Griffiths and Josh Mahoney, an unlikely outright victory could be pushed for.
The final match of the round will see Horsham Saints as the best positioned side to chase down a target.
The side dismissed Rup-Minyip for 180 at Minyip Oval and finished the day on eight without the loss of a wicket.
Young Mitch Martin will look to continue Saints’ revival in combination with experienced opening partner Justtin Combe.
Saints have performed well as a batting unit so far this season.
Only 25 Saints’ wickets have fallen through the first five rounds as experienced players such as Matt Combe and Clint King, who took his 200th club wicket on day one, work well with the young blood brought into the side this season.
The ability of Brent Hudson and Clint Midgley to take early wickets will be integral to Rup-Minyip’s hopes of staying undefeated.
