Sport
17 December, 2025
Harkness leads the way
A SIMON Harkness century has led Heytesbury-Princetown to a 76 run win over Simpson in the round nine Colac-South West premier cricket competition match.
Storm skipper Matthew Love won the toss and elected to bat first at the Timboon Recreation Reserve.
Openers Hamish Huffadine and Love put on 36 for the first wicket before Huffadine was caught behind for 22 from 17 balls.
Harkness joined Love at the crease, the pair putting on 38 for the second wicket before Love was caught for 32.
Harkness batted through until the 49th over, making 113 from 136 balls, hitting 11 boundaries.
“It was a really solid 100 from Harko,” Love said.
“He was so composed, put away the loose ball well and batted smart with others.”
Recruit Matt Price also contributed 50 from 44 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes.
“It was the first time Pricey has really got going with the bat for us.
“He can really hit a ball and he showed that in his stand and deliver style.”
The Storm finished on 8/260 from their 50 overs.
“The ground is still really lush so we were happy with that total.
“After Christmas when it dries out, that’s probably a 300 plus score.”
Price broke through early for the Storm, the quick dismissing Simpson opener Tom Weel for five.
The Simpson top order all made starts, before Price ran through the Simpson lower order, ending with 4/23 from his 10 overs as the Tigers crashed from 3/140 to 184 all out.
“Pricey’s first spell just saw them keeping him out so we saved a few overs for later on.
“He certainly had them on their toes.”
Leg-spinner Tommy Illingworth continued his form with 1/30 from 10, with Paul Vogels and Ash Hunt taking two wickets each.
“Tommy is regularly bowling well, he bowled his 10 overs straight and bowled them well.
“Ash got a couple of breakthroughs, we want to bowl him more, he’s a very capable left arm spinner.”
Heytesbury-Princetown go into the Christmas break in sixth place.
“We’re happy enough with where we are at, it would have been nice to win one or two more.
“It’s one of those competitions where anyone can beat anyone and teams will need to beat their best in the second half of the season”
Heytesbury-Princetown are automatically through to the second round of the South West Twenty20 competition on Saturday, set to play the winner of the Bookaar v Ecklin game in the knockout competition.
In division two, Storm Blue had a 10 wicket win over Ecklin, while Storm Purple had a six wicket loss to Bookaar.
In the match at Ecklin, the home team made 9/137 from their 40 overs.
Daniel Balcombe and Ryan Jones took two wickets each.
In reply Blue openers Ash Price and Ryan Jones patiently worked their way to the total, passing Ecklin’s score in the 36th over without loss.
Price made an unbeaten 64 from 117 balls with five fours, while Jones was 54 not out from 96 balls with two boundaries when the score was eclipsed.
Storm Purple batted first at the Timboon High School Oval, making 8/212.
Josh Dunne top scored with 83 from 72 balls, hitting five fours and six sixes, with opener Michael Vogels scoring 53 from 94 balls, hitting five boundaries.
Bookaar passed Purple’s score in the 32nd over for the loss of four wickets.
Going into the Christmas break, Storm Blue sit a game clear on top of the ladder, while Storm Purple are in sixth place.
In division three at the Camperdown number two ground, Heytesbury-Princetown had a 67 run win over Camperdown.
Batting first, the Storm made an impressive 2/237 from their 40 overs.
Openers Terry Webb and Sam Newcombe put on a 120 run opening stand.
Webb made 51 from 54 balls with six fours and a six.
Newcombe went on with the job, hitting 107 from 108 balls, with 16 fours.
By the innings end, Norm Vogels was unbeaten on 43 and Justin Hosking 19 not out.
In reply, Camperdown was restricted to 7/170.
Norm Vogels took 2/30 from seven overs, while opening bowlers Scott Thompson and Nathan Balcombe were economical with 1/29 from eight and 1/26 from seven respectively.
The division three Storm go into the Christmas break a game clear on top of the ladder and resume on January 17.
In the under 16s, Heytesbury-Princetown had their first win of the season on Sunday, defeating Bookaar by seven wickets.
Bookaar batted first at the Timboon Recreation Reserve and were all out for 149.
Byron Woods led the Storm bowling with 3/18 from six overs.
In reply, the Storm posted 3/154 from their 35 overs.
Lachlan Doolan made 50 retired from 88 balls, with Cooper Doolan making 40 not out in the win.
The Storm under 16s play their next game on January 25.
In the under 13s on Monday night, Heytesbury-Princetown lost to Bookaar by 87 runs.
Bookaar batted first and made 3/154, with Olly Dickinson taking 2/4 from two overs.
The Storm replied with 8/67 from their 24 overs, with Rory Hollick making 20 from 31 balls with three boundaries.
The Storm under 13s will resume after the holiday break on January 19.
COLAC SOUTH WEST CRICKET
- PREMIER DIVISION
ONE DAY MATCH
HEYTESBURY PRINCETOWN v SIMPSON
Heytesbury Princetown 8/260 (50) defeated Simpson 10/184 (46.3)
