Cricket finals begin this weekend

DAY two of the final round of matches in the Warrnambool Moyne and District Cricket Association premier division was played on Saturday.

At Dennington, after the home team was bowled out for 207 on day one, Mortlake could manage only 97 in reply, managing to face just 37.3 overs.

Saman Gonawala played a lone hand for the Cats, scoring 55 from 69 balls with six boundaries.

Ben Rantall and Sanjaya Fernando took three wickets each for Dennington.

The Dogs went back in for a second innings, making 6/160 from 39 overs before play was called, with Pishan Hewage unbeaten on a run a ball 61, Clinton Baker taking 5/22 from seven overs for Mortlake.

At Purnim, the Northern Raiders defended their 7/362 from day one against Merrivale, bowling the visitors out for 198 in 44.3 overs.

Captain James Alford top scored with 121 from 103 balls, hitting eight fours and five sixes, while

Theo Opperman made 104 from 79 balls for Merrivale but received limited support, with the next best score being 23.

Opperman hit 14 fours and three sixes in his innings, with James Elford and Hayden McGovern taking three wickets each for the Raiders.

At Jones Oval, Russells Creek had a two run win defending the 190 they made on day one.

Hugh Scott made 52 for the Eels, with Blake Evans and Probodha Senevirathne taking four wickets each for Creek as North Warrnambool was bowled out for 188.

At the Reid Oval, Nestles had a 21 run win on first innings against Port Fairy.

The Pirates, resuming on 1/18 in pursuit of Nestles 210, were all out in 58 overs for 189.

Opener Jason Perera top scored with 61 for the Pirates, with Sanjaya Arachchige taking 4/28 for Nestles.

With 23 overs to bat before stumps, Nestles finished on 4/93 in its second innings.

At Brierly, West Warrnambool resumed on 4/113, already leading Warrnambool on the first innings by 45 runs.

Ben Threlfall, who started the day on 37, went on to make 101 not out from 127 balls as the Panthers declared on 5/213, a lead of 145.

Threlfall hit 11 fours and a six in his innings.

The Panthers fell just short of an outright victory, with Warrnambool 9/136 when stumps were drawn.

At Terang, Allansford-Panmure resumed on 1/83 chasing Noorat Terang’s 110.

The Gators finished all out for 315, winning on first innings by 205 runs.

Chris Bant and Daniel Meade both scored centuries, Bant scoring 118 from 155 balls and Meade 100 from 133.

Noorat Terang had a second innings and were 5/87 at the end of the game.

Finals commence this weekend with play on Saturday and Sunday.

Top two teams Allansford-Panmure and Nestles have the week off, with third placed Russells Creek set to host Mortlake at Jetty Flat, while fourth placed Dennington play fifth placed Port Fairy at Davidson Oval.