BY COLIN MACGILLIVRAY

Homers is eyeing further success after dethroning West Wimmera to claim a Horsham Cricket Association A Grade premiership at the weekend.

Bowler Baxter Perry was the hero for the Pigeons, claiming 6-17 from 14.2 overs in the first innings to silence the dangerous West Wimmera bats.

The 213-centimetre Perry wasted no time getting stuck into the Warriors’ line-up after they won the toss and elected to bat at Horsham City Oval.

The pace bowler claimed the wicket of consistent West Wimmera opener Brad Alexander in his second over before tightening the screws, surrendering only two singles from his next 26 deliveries.

The rest of the Pigeons’ bowling attack also kept pressure on their opponents, with Jobe Dickinson, 15, falling to Oliver Potter in the 13th over as the Warriors’ run rate sat below two.

West Wimmera skipper Jeremy Weeks and Nathan Alexander formed a stabilising partnership, adding 41 runs before Alexander was caught off the bowling of Chaminda Gamage.

From there Perry feasted on the Warriors’ middle order and tail, striking twice in the 30th over to bowl Brett Jensz, 2, and Luke Smith, duck, before trapping Trevor Polkinghorne, duck, leg before wicket four overs later. Weeks continued to bat valiantly as partners fell around him, but the Warriors’ skipper was finally dismissed for 41 – fittingly by Perry – to end the innings, with his team all out for 92.

In addition to Perry’s six wickets, Gamage was superb with 3-18 from 13 overs.

Perry paid tribute to the efforts of the entire Homers bowling attack.

“It was good team bowling at the start. We all pitched in and I gained the rewards from everyone else’s hard work really,” he said.

“We just wanted to bowl good areas and try to keep them quiet as much as we could. We know how well they can play.

“Both the Alexanders are dangerous players that we knew we had to keep an eye out for.

“It definitely helped with my confidence to get Brad Alexander out early, but they still have plenty of others who can hold the stick, so we were just worried about getting the rest of them out.”

Perry said Homers felt confident after their strong start, but took nothing for granted as they prepared to bat.

“We felt pretty good to have them all out for less than 100,” he said.

“Then it was about trying to convert with our batting so we could get a first-innings lead, which was key for us.”

The Pigeons’ run chase got off to a shaky start when opener Luke Miller was bowled by Xavier Bone for a golden duck, and when Nathan Alexander had Logan Millar, one, leg before wicket only three overs later the Pigeons were 2-9.

It fell to Paddy Mills to steady the ship for Homers, which he did by soaking up deliveries alongside skipper Adam Atwood.

The pair batted patiently to build a 26-run partnership before Luke Smith struck to remove Atwood for 10, followed shortly by Luke Deutscher for a duck.

Homers’ run chase appeared to be floundering at 4-35, but Gamage again chimed in with a vital contribution by adding 20 valuable runs, while Monty Wynne notched a team-high 39, including three fours and a six.

Wynne and Gamage sent Homers racing past the 100 mark, with 11 handy runs from tailender Joey Nagorcka enough to get the team to a total of 120 all out.

With the first innings complete, an outright win was West Wimmera’s only hope of defending its premiership, and the Warriors gave themselves a chance when Brad Alexander blasted 83 from only 52 deliveries in the second innings, smashing seven fours and five sixes.

Nathan Alexander also did damage, with 30 from just 13 balls to send the side racing to 3-141 in only 17 overs before declaring.

It set Homers a target of 114 for outright victory, but the Pigeons only faced one over before rain set in on Sunday, halting play and delivering them a first-innings win.

Perry, who claimed one wicket in the second innings to finish with seven for the match, said the team was thrilled with its victory, and harboured ambitions of further success.

He said his man-of-the-match honour was insignificant compared to the club’s goal of a premiership.

“Being a young team, we’re all trying our best to succeed together, and to get one like that is pretty exciting,” he said.

“Being named man of the match  was pretty cool, but I was more worried about the team to be honest. Man of the match doesn’t really matter if you lose.

“I reckon we’ll have a similar team next year, so hopefully we can have a bit more success.”

Other grades

Rupanyup-Minyip is celebrating a B Grade premiership after a match-winning innings of 118 not out from Daniel Schaper handed minor premier Colts their first loss of the season.

Schaper paired with Clinton Midgeley, 32, and Gavin Young, 37 not out, to torch the Colts’ bowling attack, with the Blue Panthers finishing their allotted 65 overs at 5-243.

The Colts were all out for 140 in reply, with Midgley claiming match-best figures of 5-48.

In C Grade, Natimuk successfully chased a Colts total of 72, with Ben Garwood, 21, and captain Jeremy Schmidt, 19, doing enough in the middle order to ensure victory with four wickets in hand.

Schmidt was also among the Rams’ best bowlers, finishing with 3-13, while Lachlan Hutchinson had 3-12.

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