Sport
10 October, 2025
Action returns to the cricket pitch
THE 2025/26 cricket season is underway, with six games all completed in round one of the Warrnambool Moyne District Cricket Association division one premier competition.
Allansford-Panmure had the biggest win of the round, defeating Warrnambool by 155 runs at the Brierly number two oval.
Batting first, the Gators piled on 6/312 from their 45 overs.
Opener Kade Parker scored his second century for Allansford-Panmure, making 107 from 95 balls, including nine fours and six sixes.
Darcy Forssman, who played at West Australian premier club Wanneroo Districts last season, made 59 from 48 balls, while Zavier Mungean made 48 playing against his former club.
The run chase proved too much for Warrnambool, though they did bat out their overs in making 9/157, Chamika Feranando top scoring with 32.
Merrivale recruit Joe Kenna was best with the ball for the Gators, taking 3/36.
Noorat Terang had a tough initiation to the top grade of Warrnambool cricket, suffering an eight wicket loss to Mortlake at the Mortlake College Oval.
Last season’s championship division title winners batted first, slumping to 5/39 before rallying to bat out the innings, finishing at 9/130.
New Mortlake coach Craig Britten, in his first game for the Cats since crossing from Russells Creek, took 3/39, while spinner Kalhan Sineth opened the bowling with Britten and was miserly, taking 2/12 from nine overs.
Mortlake made light work of the run chase, hitting 11 sixes on their way to passing the Lions score in the 22nd over.
Veteran Todd Lamont hit 32 from 19 balls opening the batting, while Charlie Mahncke finished the innings off strongly with an unbeaten 38 from 34 balls.
Opener Saman Gonawala proved to be the anchor, being on 44 not out from 50 balls when victory was secured.
At the Mack Oval, Russells Creek had a 19 run win over the Northern Raiders.
Teetering at 6/98, a 71 run partnership between Rukshan Weerasinghe and Probodha Senevirathne helped the Creek finish at 7/190.
Weerasinghe made an unbeaten 54 from 68 balls, while Senevirathne scored 38 from 42.
In reply, the Raiders challenged but fell short, all out for 171 in the 42nd over.
Opener Ed Taylor, who joined the Raiders this season from West Warrnambool, top scored with 76 from 88 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
English import Jacob Eldridge took 4/23 on debut for Russells Creek.
At Wenborn Oval, Nestles started the season with a 36 run win over West Warrnambool.
Opener Wil Hinkley made 81 from 101 balls including six fours and four sixes in Nestles total of 199.
Former South Australian state wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman made his return after a year off, making 24, as did veteran Geoff Williams.
In reply West Warrnambool could only manage 8/163, Brock Gannon top scoring with 34.
Thomas Smith led the Nestles bowlers with 3/30 from seven overs.
At Port Fairy’s JJ Colledge Oval, North Warrnambool had a comfortable seven wicket win over the home team.
The Pirates struggled to put together any substantial partnerships on their way to being bowled out for 126 in the 42nd over.
Brothers Daniel Fowler (3/24) and Tyler Fowler (2/14) combined to take the last five wickets on their North Warrnambool debut, having crossed from West Warrnambool during the off season.
Pace bowler Hank Schlaghecke was impressive with the new ball, taking 2/13 from six overs.
The Eels passed the score in the 33rd over for the loss of three wickets.
Liam Burgess with 38 not out and Kory Howlett with 38 were the top scorers for North Warrnambool.
In the final game at the Harris Street Reserve, Dennington had a strong 78 run win over Merrivale.
Dennington opener Farooq Qureshi found the short straight Harris St boundaries to his liking, smashing 110 from just 75 balls.
Qureshi’s knock included 15 fours and three sixes.
Dogs’ captain/coach Ben Rantall finished the innings off well with 44 from 33 balls batting at number nine as Dennington were bowled out for 255 in the final over.
Merrivale were all out for 177 in the run chase, Luke Pearson top scoring with 33.
Thomas Bellman, Blake Rouse and Jackson Parker all took two wickets each for Dennington.
North Warrnambool at the Noorat Recreation Reserve.
