There's a traffic jam in the hunt for final positions in the Horsham Cricket Association's A Grade competition following the completion of round 16 on Saturday.
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With two rounds to go, six points stand between second-place Rup/Minyip on 48 points and fifth-placed Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants, 42. Horsham Saints is in third position on 45 points and with 43 points in fourth position is Laharum.
Homers out in front in first position, on 65 points, is the only team assured of a finals place.
Rup/Minyip appear to have the toughest run home playing Horsham Saints and Homers to finish the home and away season.
Veteran speedster Heath Lang turned on a vintage performance for the Bullants at Cornell Park taking 6/26, as the Colts faltered in its pursuit of a target of 163 runs. Resuming at 1/60, Colts soon found themselves under pressure with the loss of quick wickets including Nathan Keel who made a steady 48.
With a long tail to come, hopes of a win sat with Colts' stalwart Brad Millar. During Millar's patient 34 the score moved from 3/89 to 6/143. His departure saw the final 4 wickets fall to Lang, with the addition of a further 11 runs. Colts all out for 154, losing by 8 runs.
Mark Mbofana was the clear performer of the round following up his 5 wickets from the first day with a dominant 159 with the bat, as Rup/Minyip were convincing winners at the City Oval by 7 wickets against Jung Tiger.
Rup/Minyip appear to have the toughest run home playing Horsham Saints and Homers to finish the home away season.
Mbofana's innings included 10 towering sixes and 11 shots to the boundary.
Chasing a target of 135, Rup/Minyip declared on 3/246 and Jung batted for 20 overs in its second innings before making 0/66.
The Horsham Saints/Homers game at Coughlin Park was abandoned due to a damp wicket caused by the thunderstorm that passed over on Friday afternoon.
In T20 grand final action, held on Sunday at the City Oval, the day commenced with the C Grade clash between Laharum and West Wimmera Warriors.
Laharum won the toss and asked the Warriors to bat.
With many cricketers unfamiliar with playing on turf, there was regular poor shot choice.
It was Austin Merrett who was convincing for the Warriors making 28 out of the team total of 8/73. Jeremy Tyler led the way with the ball for Laharum with 3/7.
Faced with a target of 74, Laharum's intent was positive from the start. Jeremy Tyler was the first wicket to fall bowled by Merrett for 19 with the score on 36. Anthony Cutter became Merrett's next victim bowled for 15.
This triggered the collapse of all collapses with Laharum going from 2/41 to 8/47, with Merrett taking a further wicket and Jack Crowhurst chiming in with 4 wickets.
Laharum was dismissed in the 15th over losing by 17 runs.
Austin Merrett was Player of the Match with 28 runs and 4/10.
The action continued with the B Grade T20 Grand Final between the West Wimmera Warriors and Lubeck/Murtoa.
Lubeck/Murtoa won the toss and batted first. They were under immediate pressure with Phil Yew run out for a duck. Alastair Chenoweth, with 22, was the major contributor with the bat as Lubeck/Murtoa battled its way to 8/70 in its 20 overs. Two wickets apiece to Nathan Alexander, Ash Dickinson and Tim Braendler.
The Warriors would have been confident as their innings began, but at 5/45 a lucky break to the Lubeck/Murtoa could have turned the match in a completely different direction, but alas it didn't occur.
The Warriors won in the 17th over by 4 wickets. Alexander's modest performance of 18 and 2/14 was enough for him to be adjudged player of the match.
The A Grade grand final between traditional rivals Rup/Minyip and Homers never reached great heights as a spectacle. Homers lost Simon Hopper for 6 in the first over. Adam Atwood made a steady 37, but for the rest of the team, it was a poor showing.
A target of 96 for Rup/Minyip turned out to be comfortably reached in the 12th over led by Brent Hudson with 31 and Mark Mbofana with 49 not out.
Mbofana was named man of the match.