Breakthrough win for Warrnambool

WARRNAMBOOL Cricket Club’s first win at the top level since the 2024/25 season was the highlight of round four of the Warrnambool Moyne and District premier division matches last Saturday.

Batting first against the Northern Raiders at Purnim, Warrnambool posted 191 after being bowled out in the 44th over.

Skipper Campbell Love top scored with 53 from 69 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, with openers Chamika Fernando and Damon Cooper making 30 each.

Blair Roberts led the bowling for the Raiders with 6/39 from nine overs.

The Raiders in reply were all out for 169 in 41 overs, with opener Jacob Fishwick top scoring with 60 from just 32 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes.

Love and Jason Greer were the best of the Warrnambool bowlers in the win, with three wickets each.

At Deakin University, Mortlake held on to score a six run win over West Warrnambool.

Batting first, Mortlake made 8/220 from 45 overs, teenager Max Slater top scoring with 40 from 62 balls in a very even scorecard with eight players making double figures.

Despite 69 from 83 balls with seven fours and two sixes to captain Ben Threlfall, West Warrnambool was restricted to 7/214 from 45 overs.

Mortlake captain Craig Britten led the way in the win with 3/26 from eight overs.

At Bushfield, Dennington had a comfortable seven wicket win over North Warrnambool.

The Eels could only manage 95 batting first, all out in the 44th over, with Sanjaya Fernando taking three wickets for the Dogs.

It took Dennington just 12.4 overs to pass the score for the loss of three wickets, Dilip Tharaka making 39 from 29 balls.

Nestles scraped through with a one wicket win over Russells Creek at Wenborn Oval.

Creek batted first and were all out in the 43rd over for 191 with skipper Cam Williams top scoring with 69 from 43 balls, with nine fours and two sixes.

Nestles passed the score in the 36th over but did so with only one wicket in hand.

Wil Hinkley made 36 from 38 balls and Terry Ludeman 35 from 35 for the Factory in the tight victory.

Port Fairy upset reigning premier Allansford-Panmure with an eight wicket win at Allansford.

Joe Nyikos top scored with 44 from 64 balls in the home team’s 150 all out, with Jason Perera taking three wickets for the Pirates.

Opening the batting in the run chase, Perera made a run a ball 59 with seven fours and two sixes, with Vishwa Deemantha unbeaten on 54 from 89 balls when the score was passed in the 34th over for the loss of two wickets.

In a low scoring game in the first match played on the Terang Turf this season, Merrivale scored a three wicket win over the home team.

Batting first after being sent in, Noorat Terang could only manage to face 20 overs before being dismissed for 78.

Marcus Bunney led the bowling for the Tigers with 4/22 from seven overs.

Merrivale passed the score in the 25th over for the loss of seven wickets, Heshan De Silva taking three wickets for the Lions.

Next week’s round of one-day fixtures sees Russells Creek play the Northern Raiders at Jetty Flat, Dennington will host Allansford-Panmure at Dennington, Mortlake will take on Nestles at the DC Farran Oval, Noorat Terang and West Warrnambool will meet at Terang, Warrnambool plays North Warrnambool at Brierly with Avery’s Paddock the venue for the Port Fairy versus Merrivale game.

On Sunday, the opening round of the women’s competition was washed out.

This Sunday sees Koroit host Mortlake at Victoria Park, Dennington play North Warrnambool at Dennington, Cobden will meet Hawkesdale at the Cobden Technical School Oval, Warrnambool and Russells Creek clash at Brierly, Wangoom and Nestles play at Wangoom with Allansford-Panmure to host the Northern Raiders at the Panmure Recreation Reserve.