CASTERTON District will look to bring it right up to Grampians when they host the Pumas at Island Park today to headline round nine of the Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) A grade competition.

The Maroons have won two games so far this season, both against St Andrew’s, while Grampians has destroyed many of the opposition teams beating Pigeon Ponds twice, College and Hamilton.

In the regular A grade fixture, this will be the first game the Pumas have not played at Mitchell Park this season, with the only exception coming in a T20 match.

While the visitors go into the game as heavy favourites, Casterton District’s Ben Holmes will be a tough wicket to get, as the opener is averaging 113 (highest in the competition) and has only been dismissed once.

With support from Kane Forbes and Michael Jarrad, it’ll be crucial that the home side bats out the full 45 overs to post a competitive total.

Rick and Matt Killey will be lethal with the ball for the home side, combining for 10 wickets at a combined average of 6.9.

On the other side, Grampians is a formidable outfit again this season and have made themselves known as one of the teams to beat in A grade.

Carl Joyce has consistently scored with the bat hitting knocks of 33, 62, 71-not-out and 26 so far this season, while English import, Harrison Wood leads the league for wickets with 13 across his four matches.

Will Collins and Tom Polkinghorne have also played important roles this season, as has Josh Gordon with the ball and will be crucial to the Pumas’ winning chances.

Hamilton v St Andrews

MONIVAE College will host an exciting match-up, as the winless Blues take on the Drews, who have just one win for the season.

It is a very winnable game for both teams and with the limited nature of the season’s games, this is one that both sides can’t afford to miss out on if they hope to cement themselves in the finals.

After having the bye last week, St Andrew’s will be raring to go with Brendan Huf starting the season well, notching up a century this season, however he will require some other contributors with the bat if his side is to get over the line.

Huf has scored 200 of his team’s 436 runs this season, but Hamilton’s Simon Sharrock is much the same, scoring 182 off his team’s 438 runs this year, also with a ton to his name.

The side with the most contributors is likely to get over the line in this encounter.

Pigeon Ponds v College

BOTH Pigeon Ponds and College are coming off wins, but the Eagles will go into today’s clash as slight favourites despite playing away from home at Pigeon Ponds Recreation Reserve.

Simon Close and Peter Staude have been solid at the top order so far this season and are every chance to go big today, but it is the Ponds’ middle order that needs to stand up.

Michael and Anthony Close, as well as Josh Grant need to get some runs on the board if they are going to bring home a big win, with a big score likely needed.

Pigeon Ponds bowlers such as Larry Leeming, Jack Beaton and Simon Close will have arguably the toughest job they will have all season, to remove the dangerous College batting order.

Charles Murrie (173 runs), Heath Schmidt (112 runs), Adrian Burn and Hamish Bailey (both 155 runs) will be a nervous match-up for the bowlers but playing on its home ground might give Pigeon Ponds an edge.

Henry Bensch has been one of the most consistent bowlers in the competition so far this season, taking 10 wickets, including multiple three-wicket hauls.

College will be looking to cement itself in second spot while Pigeon Ponds have hopes of moving into the top four.