The penultimate round of regular season matches saw both Jeparit and Kiata earn the points from their respective games which has kept the race to the final alive when these two teams meet in their last home and away game over the next two Saturdays.

After going undefeated for the first half of the season, the Nhill Tigers suffered their third loss in four games to now be clinging to top place on the ladder by percentage only, and whilst Winiam was forced to forfeit their game and are now out of the running for a place in the final, they could hold the key to an upset in the last round.

Winiam v. Kiata

Despite setting a challenging total last weekend, Winiam was forced to forfeit the second day of their clash with Kiata when they could only muster four players.

This result has kept Kiata within reach of the final, but has finally extinguished the faint chance that Winiam still held at the start of the round.

Nhill Tigers v. Jeparit

Jeparit remain in second place on the ladder after a confidence building win over the Nhill Tigers at Davis Park on Saturday.

Needing to defend the total of 190 that they set the previous week, the Redbacks were disciplined in their bowling and despite a couple of blemished in the field, were able to stop the Tigers nine runs short of the target.

Jeparit began strongly to reduce the Nhill Tigers to 4 for 42 before Trevor Polkinghorne (59) and Ritchie Dodds (45) came together and added a further 86 runs for the fifth wicket which laid the foundation for their later batsmen to push towards victory

At 6 for 169 Nhill was well placed requiring only a further 22 runs with four wickets in hand, but in a tight finish the Redbacks were able to hold their nerve and took these last wickets for the addition of a further 12 runs.

This left the Tigers an agonising 9 runs short of victory, and lamenting the 42 extra runs they conceded to Jeparit last week through sundries.

Four Jeparit bowlers took two wickets each, including Adrian King (2 for 20), Jeremy Preston (2 for 27), Brad Keller (2 for 41) and Jack Crowhurst who continued his excellent season with the ball to open the bowling and take 2 for 45. Michael Preston took one wicket and Crowhurst effected a runout.

Round 9 Preview

Round nine will be played out over the next two weeks in Nhill with games at both Davis Park and the College oval, and both games hold significance to the make up of the final.

The Nhill Tigers will be desperate to find some form, as after winning their first four games, they have not won a game on the field since November., with forfeit win over Winiam in round 6 being their only points earned in the second half of the season

With Winiam, their final round opponent, recently struggling for numbers and being forced to forfeit three of their eight games this season, the Tigers will be hoping that they do get to play to be able to re-find that early season form. They will need a win to confirm their place in the final, as a Nhill loss and a Kiata win in the other game would leave three teams tied on 30 points for the top of the ladder and it would be percentage that decided the grand finalists.

The game on the Nhill College oval between Kiata and Jeparit is effectively a semi final as the winner of the game can progress to the final.

Jeparit go into the game six points ahead of their opponent so a win will see them qualify outright on points for their third season decider in three seasons, but a Kiata victory would see them progress if they can also maintain their superior percentage.

Nhill HOME Hardwar West Wimmera Cricket Association Ladder
After 8 of 9 Rounds

     Points %
Nhill Tigers 30 1.147
Jeparit 30 1.023
Kiata 24 1.029
Winiam      12 0.764

Round 8 Day 2 Results

Winiam 166 lost to Kiata 2/59 by forfeit

Nhill Tigers 181 lost to Jeparit 190

Nhill Tigers resumed at 0 for 0

Nhill Tigers First Innings

L Smith    b. B Keller 15
S Gusman    b. A King 13
M Dahlenburg      ct M Preston      b. J Preston 10
A Cramer    b. A King 0
T Polkinhorne    b. B Keller 59
R Dodds Run Out    45
S Smith    b. M Preston 13
A Dickinson ct B Keller b. J Preston 8
S Kessler not out         1
B Alexander    b. J Crowhurst 0
S Graham ct A King b. J Crowhurst 4
Sundries       13
TOTAL    181

Jeparit Bowling

        O      M      R      W
J Crowhurst 9 1 45 2
B Keller 14 5 41 2
G Grinter 4 0 14 0
J Preston 14 3 27 2
A King      4 1 20 2
T James 2 1 12 0
M Preston 8 3 14 1