Sport
27 March, 2026
Two flags for Gators
ALLANSFORD-PANMURE have made it two flags in three years after winning the Warrnambool Moyne and District Cricket Association premier division grand final on the weekend.
Dennington skipper Ben Rantall won the toss and elected to bat first at the Reid Oval on Saturday.
The Dogs made a cautious start before opener Shannon Beks was stumped by Zavier Mungean from the bowling of Brandon Bant for one, with the score on 15.
Samith Sepala was next to go, caught behind for 23 from the bowling of Ethan Boyd.
The biggest partnership of the innings came next, with Dilip Tharaka and Farooq Qureshi putting on 105 for the third wicket in 33 overs before Tharaka was caught behind off Boyd for an innings high 71 from 127 balls with nine boundaries.
Qureshi went on to make 55 from 152 balls as regular wickets started to fall for the Dogs.
From 2/144 Dennington lost its last eight wickets while adding 69 to be all out in the 79th over for 213.
Sanjaya Fernando was the best of the lower order, contributing 25 from 33 balls.
Joe Kenna led the Allansford-Panmure bowling with 4/33 from 12.3 overs, Boyd took 3/43 from 15 with Bant and Charlie James taking a wicket each.
Gators openers Shashan Silva and Kade Parker got their team off to a strong start before Parker was caught for 23 with the score on 29.
Silva was the second wicket to fall (with the score on 65), the skipper caught for 30 from 55 deliveries.
After Zavier Mungean was dismissed without scoring, Chris Bant and Charlie James took the score to 109 before both were dismissed with the score on that total.
Bant made 44 from 66 balls, hitting seven boundaries, with James out for five from 32 balls.
Daniel Meade joined Patrick Mahony at the crease, with the pair carrying the Gators to victory with an unbeaten 106 run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Mahony was unbeaten on 32, but it was Meade who blasted Allansford-Panmure to victory, hitting 11 boundaries in his unbeaten 69 from 130 balls.
Rantall led the Dennington bowlers with 2/56 from 17 overs, with Sam Worden, Sanjaya Fernando and Pishan Hewage taking a wicket each.
Meade was named player of the match for his innings.
The weekend was even more special for Allansford-Panmure as the Gators also took out the championship division premiership.
Gators skipper Declan Bourke won the toss and elected to bat first against Hawkesdale at Mortlake’s DC Farran Oval, with his team bowled out in 51 overs for 112.
Kyall Timms top scored with 52 from 69 balls, with Bourke making a patient 35 from 139 balls.
Will Morrison was the pick of the Hawkesdale bowlers with 5/22 from 14 overs, with his new ball partner Lachlan Glare taking 4/44 from 25 overs.
In reply, Hawkesdale struggled to get any meaningful partnerships going, and collapsed from 6/85 to be all out for 86 in 60.4 overs.
Timms took 3/11 from 16 overs, veteran quick Ben Boyd took 3/16 from 13.4 overs with off-spinner Simon Richardson economically taking the new ball alongside Boyd with 1/23 from 16 overs.
Allansford-Panmure were 2/40 in their second innings when play was called; the Gators winning the first innings by 26 runs.
Timms was awarded the player of the match medal for his impressive all-round game.
