With only one day remaining in the West Wimmera Cricket Association home and away season one team has earned a place in the grand final, but it will take until the end of play next Saturday before the other combatant will be decided.

Nhill Tigers defeated Winiam by forfeit

The Nhill Tigers received a forfeit from Winiam which confirmed their place in the final which had looked almost certain earlier om the season after they won their first four games. Since November the Tigers only victories have been by forfeit over Winiam, so although they have qualified for the season decider they go into the game with some doubts over their form.

It is also a disappointing end to a difficult season for the Winiam team which when they were able o put their best team on the field were able to match it with the best, but a season long struggle for players has taken its toll.

Kiata v. Jeparit 8 for 202

On the Nhill Secondary College oval the game between Kiata and Jeparit is evenly poised with the prize for the eventual winner being a place in the grand final.

After winning the toss, the Kiata captain invited his opponents to bat first and this appeared to pay off when the Redbacks were reduced to 3 for 32 off 19 overs.

When the sixth wicket fell just past the mid point of the innings Jeparit only had 76 runs on the board and was facing the prospect of not batting out their allotted 70 overs and struggling to make it much past 100 runs.

Above - another Jeparit wicket falls.

This was when Adrian King came to the crease to join Jeremy Preston, and in the next twenty overs they put on a club record partnership for the 7th wicket of 95 runs to take the team total past 170.

When King edged a Liam Albrecht delivery to wicketkeeper Jamie Harding he had made 57 runs which included 6 fours and a six.

Preston continued and later combined with Jason Hutson for an unfinished 31 run partnership for the ninth wicket. At the end of play he was on 74 not out and had taken the team to a total of 8 for 202.

The other major contributor to this total was Justin Knorpp who scored a valuable 34 runs batting at number four.

Three Kiata bowlers shared two wickets each, with Liam Albrecht (2 for 20), Josh Lees 2 for 25) and Dylan Webb (2 for 38) sharing this success.

When the game continues next Saturday afternoon, the scenario is simple -

A victory by Jeparit will see them finish two wins ahead of Kiata, and on the same points as the Nhill Tigers, which will earn them a place in the final. A good win could see them overtake the Tigers on percentage and earn the title of minor premiers.

A win for Kiata will bring them equal on points with Jeparit, but they will have to win well enough to maintain their slightly superior percentage if they are to take on the Tigers the following week.

Kiata entered this round with a slender 0.007 advantage in percentage over Jeparit but even a close win could whittle this away.

Kiata v. Jeparit

Jeparit First Innings

T James ct T Alexander      b. D Webb 10
B Keller ct D Webb b. L Albrecht 3
J Crowhurst      ct J Harding      b. D Webb 2
J Knorpp ct J Harding b. L Marra 34
M Preston ct D Webb b. T Alexander      7
J Preston not out    74
S Leach    b. J Lees 1
A King ct J Harding b. L Albrecht 57
T Inkster    J Lees 4
J Hutson not out b.    2
Sundries       13
TOTAL    8 for 202

Kiata Bowling

        O      M      R      W
J Lees 14 3 25 2
L Albrecht 14 6 20 2
D Webb 10 1 38 2
D Colomera 8 4 26 0
T Alexander      14 4 37 1
S Alexander 8 0 48 0
L Marra 2 0 7 1