Hamish Alexander's innings helps Warrnambool Gold book 2022 Horsham under 15 country week grand final spot

The Warrnambool Gold cricketer went against his traditional attack-first mentality to craft a match-winning 81 runs in its semi-final win against Wimmera-Mallee on Thursday.

Hamish, 14, finished going at almost a run-a-ball but that was after he eased himself into his innings.

DAY ONE REPORT: All-rounder's day out

"I tried to really focus hard because I'd been going pretty rubbish (with the bat) the first couple of days but I really tried to dig myself in," he told The Standard after the seven-wicket victory.

"(Later on) the runs came a lot easier than they came at the start which just goes to show you've just got to build the innings before you start having a tonk."

The Emmanuel College student said Horsham City Oval provided "good value for shots".

DAY TWO REPORT: Final-over heroics lift Blue team

Hamish's father Jeremy Alexander, who is co-coaching the side with Leigh Marris, said his son played a smart innings.

"I'm very proud. His natural game is to get going from ball one," he said.

"He likes to attack, that's his natural game, but today he got himself in before he started playing his shots.

"It was a really good mindset and a good sign of maturity as a batsman."

DAY THREE REPORT: Tight bowling helps Gold 'turn the screws'

Jeremy also praised opener Mason Porter for his handy 27 and Jett Grayland (33) for his positivity.

Hamish, who plays locally for Dennington, is bullish about Warrnambool Gold's grand final chances.

The decider will be at Horsham City Oval against either South West or Warrnambool Blue, which played in a twilight semi-final, on Friday.

"It is great to see the lads win and get into the final which is the main thing," Hamish said of his Gold team.

"I think we're a really good side. A bunch of the other lads have been batting really well, like Mason Porter, Jett Grayland, Sammy Rhodes and Toby Madden, and we've got a really solid bowling attack as well, so we should compete really well."

Jeremy was content with Warrnambool Gold chasing Wimmera-Mallee's 171.

"Wimmera got off to a solid start, I think they were 0-40," he said.

"We just managed to peg them back and tie them down through the middle overs which made the total gettable.

"Horsham oval is super quick at the moment so although it was a 172, it probably felt more like a 140-type total."

Jeremy said Ted Hunter's 3-26 was crucial.

The Nestles-aligned teenager used his medium pace to have 2-4 early on in his spell.

"He digs it into the wicket, so he gets a bit of seam and variation," Jeremy said.