The Horsham Cricket Association 2021/22 season resumed this weekend after the New Year break, but it was not the ideal return for the local teams.

Both the A and B grade competitions returned to the field with a round to Twenty20 matches, but the C grade will not resume until January 29.

A Grade - West Wimmera Warriors 7/129 (J Philip 47 not out, N Alexander 31, T Braendler 21) lost to Homers 2/130 (B Alexander 1/26, J Philip 1/29)

The West Wimmera Warriors team took on Homers in a twilight match on Saturday evening at the Horsham City Oval, and a seventh-wicket partnership between James Philip (47 not out off 43 balls) and Tim Braendler (21 off 19 balls) dominated their innings of 129 for the loss of seven wickets.

Other significant contributions included Nathan Alexander’s 31 runs from 27 balls and Trevor Polkinghorne made 18 from 16 balls.

The Homers’ opening batsmen started strongly, with the opening pair making 95 before the first wicket fell and had lost just two wickets when they passed the target in the thirteenth over. Luke Deutscher scored the bulk of the runs with 86 from 43 balls, including eight sixes and seven fours.

Brad Alexander and Philip took one wicket each.

Next week the Warriors have the bye before taking on the competition leaders, Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants, on Davis Park at the end of January.

Rupanyup-Minyip 6/160 (H Young 2/22) defeated Blackheath-Dimboola 7/114 (B Cramer 43 not out, D Polack 23)

Blackheath-Dimboola travelled to Minyip to take on the home team and also suffered a defeat.

After asking Rupanyup-Minyip to bat first, the Bulls were set a target of 160 when opener Dylan Eats dominated the scoring with an innings of 98.

Harry Young was the best of the bowlers with 2 for 22 from four overs, and four others took one wicket each to account for six opposition batters.

Brodie Cramer scored the highest score in the Bulls’ reply of 7 for 114 when he remained not out on 43 at the end of the twentieth over. Daniel Polack contributed 23, Sam Polack made 19, and Anthony Vicendese scored 13 to be the others to reach double figures.

Despite this result, the Bulls’ remain clear in second place on the overall B grade ladder and are third on the Twenty20 ladder.

As the only local senior team to have a scheduled match next weekend, the focus will be on the B grade Twenty20 match on the Dimboola Recreation Reserve when Lubeck-Murtoa visits. With both teams on one win from two games in this format, it should be an entertaining game.