Sport
19 December, 2025
Maiden century for Bulls captain
A MAIDEN century to captain Grant Place and a seven wicket haul to Lahiru Fernando has led Pomborneit to a 173 run win over Irrewarra in the round nine Colac-South West premier cricket competition match.
Place won the toss and elected to bat, and after losing the early wicket of Matt Bignell, the skipper joined Dave Murphy at the crease, with the pair putting on a 147 run second wicket partnership.
“We’ve played a lot of cricket together and have a good understanding of how we both go about it,” Place said.
“We didn’t want their bowlers to settle early, we played aggressively when it was right to.”
Murphy was next to go, caught for 63 from 82 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.
“Dave’s been a bit up and down this season but he was super impressive on Saturday.
“When he plays like that he is still one of the best opening batsmen around.”
After so many close misses, Place brought up his first century and made it a big one, scoring 144 from 105 balls.
Place’s knock featured 17 fours and seven sixes.
“There was some relief in finally making one but it hasn’t been something I’ve been overly concerned about,” he said.
“I’ve been close a few times but the team’s success is what has always driven me.”
After Place was dismissed with the score on 246, the Bulls pushed ahead to make their season high score of 9/325.
Irrewarra captain Dave Lineen got his team off to an aggressive start, though Finn Tolland got the early wicket of fellow opener Jarvis Holland to have the Redbacks at 1/20.
Roshane Ferando took the wicket of Lineen for 46 from 45 balls, with the home team still in the game at 2/109.
Enter Lahiru Fernando.
The leg-spinner completely ripped through the Redbacks batting order, taking 7/17 from eight overs, his best figures in Pomborneit colours.
“Larry (Fernando) is hard enough to face if you’ve played him before, we have trouble with him in the nets,” Place said.
“He was very new for them but having said that he bowled brilliantly, by far the best he’s bowled this season so far.”
Tom Darcy was the other wicket taker as the Bulls dismissed the Redbacks for 152 in the 35th over.
Going into the mid-season break, Pomborneit sits fourth on the ladder.
“We had a slow start and a Duckworth/Lewis result that really went against us, but we are happy with where we are sitting.
“It’s an ultra competitive and even competition, I’m confident we can keep building.”
In division two, Pomborneit had a dominant nine wicket win over Boorcan at South Purrumbete.
The Dragons batted first, making 6/141 from their 40 overs.
Skipper Charlie Voutier and Fletcher Tolland took two wickets each, opening bowler Max Rees impressed, conceding just eight runs from six overs, while Stephen Hill bowled tightly to claim 1/21 from his eight over spell.
The Bulls comfortably ran down the Dragons total in 28 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
Voutier made 53 from 87 balls with five fours.
Fletcher Tolland made his first senior half century with 56 not out from 68 balls, hitting a four and two sixes, with Ben Whytcross unbeaten on 21 from 14 balls.
The division two Bulls go into the break in third place, with their next game not until January 31.
In division three, the second Pomborneit derby of the season took place, with Pomborneit Maroon handing Pomborneit Gold their first loss for 2025/26.
Gold batted first, making 8/172 from their 40 overs.
Opener Matt Richardson scored 83 from 75 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six.
Jack Smith was the other main contributor, with an unbeaten 31 from 81 balls.
For Maroon, left-armer Andy Raven was impressive with 2/8 from eight overs, with junior player Bailey Fox taking 2/8 from five overs.
The Maroon Bulls were in early trouble at 3/13 then 4/30.
When Mark McInnes was dismissed for 16, Maroon were 5/83.
Captain Donnie McInnes joined second gamer Nate Castle at the crease, with the pair putting on 72 for the sixth wicket.
McInnes made 38 from 31 balls, hitting four fours and a six.
Castle batted well, making 71 from 67 balls with three fours and two sixes before being bowled by Matt Richardson.
Bailey Fox, with 13 not out, and Hugo Saarikallio with one not out got Maroon over the line in the 36th over to record a three wicket win.
Tayla Reynolds led the gold bowlers with 3/39 from eight overs, with Tony Evans taking two wickets.
Going into the Christmas break, Pomborneit Gold sits second on the ladder, with Maroon in fourth.
Both teams resume on January 17.
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