Sport
2 February, 2023
Mixed bag for Pombo
JANUARY provided a mixed bag of results for Pomborneit’s division one team.
JANUARY provided a mixed bag of results for Pomborneit’s division one team.
After previously being unbeaten prior to the Christmas break, the team had two wins and two losses for the month.
Playing Noorat at Pomborneit on January 7, the Bulls made 7/299 batting first.
Opener Dave Murphy scored 93 from 101 balls, well aided by a 91 run opening partnership with Tom Place, who made 52 from 60 balls.
The seemingly big total was almost run down by Noorat, who fell just short in a hugely entertaining game, making 6/291.
The very next day the division one Bulls hosted Bookaar, the game being switched to avoid a clash with the Camperdown Cup.
Again batting first, Pomborneit scored 7/220 from their 50 overs.
Tom Place top scored with 47 and Tharaka Sendanayake made 46 with other contributions from skipper Grant Place (38 not out) and Stephen Hill (31).
Bookaar pushed hard in the run chase, falling short to be bowled out for 213. Tom Darcy led the bowlers with 4/36 from 10 overs.
The following week a high quality clash between the two unbeaten teams, Pomborneit and Heytesbury, took place at Timboon.
The result did not come until the 100th and final over of the day, Heytesbury scoring a nail-biting two wicket win with just three balls remaining in the match.
Dave Murphy (34), Steve Murphy (32), Easton Wood (30) and Tom Darcy (30) all made starts in the Bulls total of 8/213.
With the ball, Tom Place, Finn Tolland and Stephen Hill all took two wickets each, while Tharaka Sendanayake was miserly with his 1/22 from 10 overs in Heytesbury’s reply of 8/217.
Last Saturday saw another thrilling finish, with Terang upsetting the Bulls with a one wicket win at Terang.
Batting first, Pomborneit, after slumping to 6/53, recovered on the back of 83 from 101 balls from the in-form Tharaka Sendanayake to post 166.
Terang’s run chase saw both teams’ fortunes fluctuate, the home team 5/71 at one stage before late partnerships saw Terang pass Pomborneit’s score in the last over with one wicket and three balls in hand.
After winning the South West Cricket Association Twenty20 title in December, Pomborneit qualified for the Sungold Twenty20 tournament in Warrnambool, kicking off with a knockout quarter final against Nestles CC at Dennington on January 22.
The Bulls batted first and were off to a strong start with a 41 run opening partnership between Tom Place (top scored with 29) and Dave Murphy before a middle order collapse saw the team at 7/67.
An unbeaten stand of 40 for the eighth wicket between Steve Murphy, who hit the final ball of the innings for six, and Simon Tolland saw the team post 7/107 - both players unbeaten on 20 apiece.
In reply Nestles was forced to work hard for its runs, not passing the score until the final over.
Stephen Hill, with 2/17 from his four overs, and Tom Darcy with 2/20 from four the best of the bowlers.
The division two Bulls recorded two wins and one loss in January.
An 11-run win over Cobden at Pomborneit in the first game back continued their pre-Christmas form.
Skipper Matt Richardson, with 27, and Wes Lenehan, with 25, top scored in Pomborneit’s 142.
Young opening bowler Gavin Reynolds tore through Cobden’s top order with 4/27 from eight overs, his best return in senior cricket, as Cobden was bowled out for 131.
The following week the division two Bulls ventured to Ecklin, with the home team batting first and making 9/199; Aaron Van Es and Matt Richardson taking three wickets each.
In reply Pomborneit was in trouble at 3/22 before experienced players Simon Tolland (34 from 39 balls), Luke Reynolds (74 from 86 balls), Stephen Walters (54 not out from 62 balls) and Matt Richardson (20 not out) steered the Bulls to a five wicket win in the 38th over, finishing at 5/205.
Last Saturday saw the division two team head down to the coast to play Princetown.
The home team went hard at the Bulls bowlers in making 6/238.
Left-arm spinner Sam Whytcross was by far the most impressive of the Pomborneit bowlers, taking 1/25 from eight overs delivered with great control and flight.
In reply the Bulls battled hard with the bat but fell short with 6/184 from their 40 overs.
Opener Wes Lenehan showed great discipline in carrying his bat through the innings, making an unbeaten 63 from 125 balls, while Luke Reynolds made 47 from 41 balls.
The division three Bulls have had two strong wins from their two January games.
The round seven match at Timboon was noteable for Pomborneit’s under 17 girls and senior women’s players Ella and Nellie Sadler who made their debuts in men’s cricket.
Both women acquitted themselves well; Nellie opened the bowling with figures of 0/7 from four overs, while Ella had the wicket-keeping gloves on and was extremely tidy behind the stumps.
A strong bowling effort from the Bulls saw them bowl Heytesbury out for 97, with three wickets each to Jhai Gavin, Tim Whitehead and Ben Whytcross.
The run chase saw Pomborneit pass the score in the 24th over for the loss of just two wickets - junior player Ben Whytcross leading the team home with 34 not out.
On Saturday at Pomborneit, the division three Bulls put in another strong bowling and fielding effort to dismiss Boorcan for 133.
With three wickets Donnie McInnes led the bowlers, with two wickets each to Jhai Gavin and junior player Brady Bernoth.
Pomborneit passed Boorcan’s score in the 36th over, Ben “Nugget” Whytcross continuing his superb division three form with an unbeaten 40, while veteran Mark McInnes was in good touch with his innings of 33.
Women’s cricket returned on Sunday.
Pomborneit Gold scored a 10 wicket win over Birregurra at Pomborneit.
Birregurra batted first and were all out for 58, with Jess Moulden and Neave Thompson taking three wickets each.
Gold were 0/80 with 10 overs left when rain stopped play, openers Jess Moulden (32 retired from 22 balls) and Ella Sadler (30 retired from 38 balls) led the way in the victory.
The Pomborneit Maroon women’s team travelled to Colac to play Irrewarra at the CSC Oval.
The home team batted first, with the maroon ladies bowling and fielding extremely well to dismiss the Redbacks for 67.
Tahlia Denham, with 3/18 from four overs, and Belinda Lenehan with 2/5 from three overs the standout bowlers.
Lenehan also contributed in the field with a superb one handed catch.
In reply the maroon batting struggled to kick into gear but still got close, ultimately all out for 57 in the final over.
Emily Norman, with 13 from 22 balls, hit the ball well, with Tahlia Denham working hard for her 10 off 35 balls in the unsuccessful chase.