Teams pile on the runs on Horsham cricket day one

Donald-Jeffcott turned in arguably the most impressive performance against reigning premier West Wimmera, piling on 259 runs before losing its 10th wicket in the final over of the day.

While the Warriors were below full strength, they relied on Josh Lees, captain Brad Alexander and Austin Merrett to shoulder the bulk of the bowling duties.

Alexander’s decision to bowl after winning the toss at Nhill’s Davis Park looked a good one when Donald-Jeffcott opener Josh Bakes fell for four runs from more than 40 deliveries faced, while captain Cooper Anderson was also slow to get off the mark.

But after Anderson fell to Josh Cramer for 19, the DJ side settled at the crease.

Daniel Atkins, 52, and Eddie Landwehr, 53, each notched half-centuries, while Koby Westerland and Hugh Dougherty added 34 and 33 respectively to send their side racing towards the 200-run mark.

Landwehr was the final wicket to fall, batting alongside a succession of tailenders after Dougherty’s dismissal by Lees, who was the top West Wimmera bowler with 3-47 from 21 overs.

The Warriors will have a full day to chase a target of 260 when play resumes this weekend.

Also facing an uphill climb are the Horsham Tigers, who conceded 248 runs after Swifts-Great Western won the toss and batted.

Lions captain Sam Cocks was the star of the show with 155 runs from 157 deliveries faced at the top of the order, slogging four sixes and 14 fours.

Tom Fitzgerald also made an important 60, helping shore up a middle order that recorded four ducks after Cocks’ brilliant start.

Codi Kenny and Anderson Brown were the Tigers’ best bowlers, taking 4-46 and 3-38 respectively.

In 17 overs before stumps the Tigers were 2-67, with Grant Connelly unbeaten on 61 after openers Gavin Brown, three, and Martin Jones, duck, fell cheaply.

Another century highlighted Southern Mallee Eagles’ first inning against Homers, with Isaac McPherson’s 112 from 172 balls taking his team to a total of 9-223 at Brim Recreation Reserve.

McPherson’s best partnership came with Ethan Schilling, 34, with the pair putting on 78 runs for the fifth wicket.

Homers batted 10 overs in reply before stumps, making 1-8 with Naveen Beth falling to McPherson for a duck.

Noradjuha-Toolondo’s match against Laharum at Cameron Oval was lower scoring but no less eventful, with the Demons finishing 3-35 at stumps in pursuit of the Bullants’ total of 133.

Laharum bowler Joel Pymer got his side off to a dream start with a first-ball wicket to remove the dangerous Matt Combe, before Troy Dumesny, 42, and Jack Combe, 49, stabilised the Bullants with a 60-run stand for the third wicket.

But the Demons got back on top late in the innings, with Josh Mahoney ripping through Noradjuha-Toolondo’s lower and middle order to finish with 6-37 and have the visitors all out in the 56th over.

Laharum opened its run chase cautiously, but while opener Sean Wouters remained unbeaten on 20 by stumps, Max Bunworth, Matthew Kerr and Harrison Hoffmann each struggled to generate runs before falling cheaply.

The Demons will resume their chase on Saturday requiring 99 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand.

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