Sport
13 February, 2026
Gators find form with the bat
THE first day’s play in round 12 of the Warrnambool Moyne and District Cricket Association on Saturday saw a mix of large and small totals posted.
At Allansford, the Gators made the highest score of the day with a massive 6/384 against Warrnambool.
The total was set up by a 181 run second wicket partnership between Shashan Silva and Chris Bant.
Silva made 100 from 147 balls, hitting eight boundaries.
Bant scored 110 from 114 balls with 10 fours and two sixes.
Other contributions came from Kade Parker with 48 and Charlie James with 43.
Chamika Feranando and Will Colla took two wickets each in a tough day for the Warrnambool bowlers.
At Jetty Flat, Russells Creek made 9/211 against the Northern Raiders.
Heshan De Silva and Ryan Barnes both made 35 for Creek, with Englishman Ed Taylor leading the Raiders bowlers with 4/50 from 20 overs.
A second Tim Ludeman century of the season led Nestles to 7/278 against West Warrnambool at Davidson Oval.
Ludeman’s 104 came from 168 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six.
Sanjaya Arachchige was the other main contributor with 71 from 166 balls.
Jacob Lucas was the only multiple wicket taker for the Panthers with 2/39 from 10 overs.
It was a different story at Terang, with 25 wickets falling on the first day of the match between Noorat Terang and Mortlake.
Batting first, Mortlake crashed to 5/31 before then being all out for 40 in 24.2 overs.
Ollie Mahncke was the only player to reach double figures with 15 from 27 balls.
For the Lions, Gus Bourke took 5/21 from 12.2 overs, Tyson Hay took 3/17 from nine overs including both openers with Liam Geary taking 2/2.
The wickets kept tumbling when Noorat Terang came out to bat, all out for 49 in 31.1 overs.
Young opener Ryan Mottram was the only Lion to make double figures, with 19 from 39 balls.
Veteran all rounder Clinton Baker led the way for Mortlake with 5/19 from 14 overs, with Craig Britten taking 3/22 from 15.
With 17 overs to finish the day, Mortlake slumped to 5/14.
Bourke and Hay took two wickets each, with Geary one.
Sam Gonawala and Jack Lehmann will resume for Mortlake on Saturday with the Cats ahead by five runs with five wickets in hand.
At Dennington, the Dogs made 263 against Merrivale.
The innings was dominated by Dilip Tharaka, who made 154 from 193 balls with 15 fours and a six.
Merrivale had six wicket takers in an even bowling performance.
At Avery’s Paddock, 19 wickets fell on the first day of the match between Port Fairy and North Warrnambool.
The Eels batted first and were dismissed in 57.4 overs for 94.
Opener Nickolas Robertson carried his bat through the innings, making an unbeaten 37 from 181 balls.
For the Pirates, Jason Perera and Henry Bensch took three wickets each.
With 19 overs to bat before stumps, Port Fairy crashed to 9/55.
North Warrnambool quick Hank Schlaghecke leading the way with 6/22 from 10 overs.
In the WMDCA women’s competition it was the first week of finals.
At Brierly, Cobden had a six wicket win over Warrnambool.
Batting first, the Knights were bowled out in 23.3 overs for 142.
Anna Dickson top scored with 44 from 60 balls, hitting six boundaries, with Leah Dickson making 21 and Jess Walsh 20.
Lucy Neal led the Warrnambool bowlers with 3/29 from 5.3 overs.
Warrnambool batted out their 30 overs in reply but fell short, making 8/136.
Lucy Neal was unbeaten on 33 from 50 balls, with new ball bowlers Jess Walsh and Leah Dickson taking two wickets each.
At the Reid Oval, Allansford-Panmure had an eight wicket win over Dennington.
Batting first, Dennington were all out off the final ball of the innings for 90.
Gemma Dance made 34 from 63 balls with three fours, with Kiara Dean, Isabelle Kelly, Lily Shand and Caitlyn Smith taking two wickets each for the Gators.
It took Allansford-Panmure just 14 overs to pass the score, with Hannah Meates making 39 from 40 balls including four boundaries.
The semi final matches this week sees Hawkesdale play Cobden and Nestles lining up against Allansford-Panmure.
