On Friday night A Grade cricket returns to the region with an enticing top-of-the-table T20 between Noradjuha-Toolondo Bullants and Jung Tigers, under lights at Horsham City Oval.
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The undefeated Bullants will go in favourites with a line-up that includes the competition's leading wicket-taker, Tony Caccaviello (22 wickets) and run-scorer, Justtin Combe (287 runs), but will still have to be at their best against an impressive Jung lineup.
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After seven rounds star recruit Grant Connelly (245 runs and five wickets) has played a pivotal role in the Tigers' success so far, while Levi Mock (101 runs without being dismissed) and Lochie Pymer (nine wickets) have been valuable contributors.
The two teams previously faced off in round three with the Bullants recording a six-wicket victory.
Speaking to The Wimmera Mail-Times on Wednesday Caccaviello said that he was looking forward to the match.
"It should be good, always a bit of an honour to play at City Oval under lights on a Friday night," Caccaviello said.
"As a player I really like it, it frees up the weekend," he laughed.
After winning their first five games, the Bullants' paceman is pleased with the way his side is sharing the load.
"I think we're winning as a team so I'm really happy with that and we're putting in the hard yards and everyone's trying to step up and play their role," he said.
As for his form which has seen him take 22 scalps including career-best figures of 8-11 against Homers in round four, Caccaviello assured that he hadn't done anything special to trigger the purple patch.
"Cricket's a funny game, particularly bowling," he said.
"I'm really happy, to be honest. Sometimes taking the wickets is out of your control, you try to put it in the right spot and sometimes the batters nick it and sometimes they play and miss.
"You don't control what happens at their end, it's a funny game bowling.
"I've done it for a long time and I reckon there have probably been occasions where I've bowled really well and taken no wickets and then there's been other times where I haven't had the best day and taken a bag."
On Saturday night, third-placed Homers and fourth-placed West Wimmera will face off in the remaining A Grade match; also a T20 at City Oval.
Nine points currently separate the two teams on the ladder, with both teams knowing how valuable a win is at this stage of the competition.
The sides last played each other in round three and on that occasion Homers prevailed by 74 runs, thanks to an entire team effort with bat and ball.
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Ahead of round eight, Luke Deutscher is Homers' leading run-scorer with 127, while Chaminda Gamage (13 wickets) has been their most damaging bowler.
For the Warriors, Mitch Dahlenburg is back to his best with the willlow after a slow start, with 205 runs for the season, while Nathan Alexander leads the side's bowlers on 10 wickets.
Jung versus Noradjuha-Toolondo begins at 7 pm on Friday, while Homers versus West Wimmera starts at 6 pm on Saturday.
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