Cricket season now underway

FIVE out of the six opening round premier division fixtures in the Warrnambool Moyne and District Cricket Association were played on Saturday, with the Port Fairy v Nestles clash the only game not able to get started.

Reigning champions Allansford-Panmure scored a 33 run win over West Warrnambool at Allansford in a game shortened to 30 overs per team.

Captain Kade Parker top scored with 75 from 56 balls in the Gators 6/197, with Shashan Silva making 40 and Lachlan Rea 34.

Despite 67 from 62 balls from Ben Threlfall, West Warrnambool could only manage 6/164 in reply.

Featuring six debutantes in their line-up, Noorat Terang had a two wicket win over the Northern Raiders at the Noorat Recreation Reserve.

Batting first, the Raiders were dismissed in the 44th over for 158, Muditha Fernando top scoring with 48 from 74 balls.

Ryan Mottram led the bowling for Noorat Terang with 3/32 from nine overs.

Star recruit Heshan De Silva led the way for the Lions in the run chase, making 64 from 62 balls.

Stephen O’Connor and Tim Delaney saw the home team over the line in the 45th over, eight wickets down.

Patrick Bubb and Hennadige Fernando took two wickets each for the Raiders in the loss.

At Brierly, Russells Creek registered a six wicket win over Warrnambool.

Batting first, Warrnambool made 8/190 from 43 overs.

Openers Damon Cooper (63 from 87 balls) and Chamika Fernando (51 from 74) were Warrnambool’s best, with Steven Fisher, on permit from the Camperdown CC, taking 3/33 for Creek.

Russells Creek cruised to victory in the 34th over for the loss of just four wickets, with Probodha Senevirathne unbeaten on 66 from 76 balls.

Last season’s runners-up Dennington had a 39 run win over Mortlake in their clash at Deakin University.

Skipper Ben Rantall top scored with an unbeaten 60 from 84 balls as the Dogs posted 9/148 from 36 overs.

Mortlake skipper Craig Britten led the way for the Cats, taking 4/19 from seven overs.

In reply, Mortlake was bowled out for 109 in the 33rd over.

Opener Adam Atwood top scored with 40 from 75 balls, with teenager Max Slater making 35 from 66.

For Dennington, Sanjaya Fernando took 4/22 from 4.3 overs, with Thomas Bellman taking three wickets.

In the final match of the round, Merrivale scored a four wicket win over North Warrnambool at Bushfield.

Hank Schlaghecke top scored with 34 from 59 balls as the Eels were rolled for 105 in 32 overs.

Merrivale passed the score in the 30th over for the loss of six wickets; Mark Jones top scoring with 32 from 18 balls.

This week’s round two fixtures (one-day matches again) will see North Warrnambool host Noorat Terang at Bushfield, Mortlake and Warrnambool will meet at Mortlake College, West Warrnambool will play Russells Creek at Deakin University, the Northern Raiders host Port Fairy at Purnim, Allansford-Panmure play Merrivale at Panmure, with Nestles and Dennington clashing at Wenborn Oval.