Sport
6 February, 2026
Big run chase from Bulls
POMBORNEIT recorded one of its biggest successful run chases in recent memory when it defeated Apollo Bay in round 11 of the Colac-South West premier cricket competition on Saturday.
Apollo Bay batted first in the match at the Pomborneit Recreation Reserve, posting 7/270 from its 50 overs.
“Their top order was impressive, and they finished the innings well and got away from us a bit,” Pomborneit captain Grant Place said.
Sharks captain Isaac Noseda made 79 from 84 balls opening the batting, impressing Place.
“Noseda’s a real talent, we’d watched a bit of him on Frogbox but he mostly had the answers to our attack, he particularly liked the ball coming on from the quicks.”
It was the introduction of spin that got the Bulls back into the game.
Lahiru Fernando broke through for the first wicket, trapping opener Dylan Murnane LBW for 15.
The Bulls four spinners ended up bowling 38 overs between them.
Fernando took 2/33 from 10 overs, Tharaka Sendanayake 0/44 from 10 and Josh Reynolds 1/44 from eight.
Former captain Matt Bignell, who has rarely bowled in 2025/26, bowled his full quota of 10 overs, taking 1/36.
“Biggers did a great job, we needed another pace off bowler on Saturday.
“His flight and change of pace was really good.”
The Bulls handed a division one debut to junior player Max Rees.
“Max bowled pretty well in his three overs and he was fantastic in the field.
“We’ve been wanting to get him in for a taste for a while as his division two and junior form has been really strong.”
Dave Murphy got the run chase off to a strong start, smashing 79 from 64 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes.
The Bulls then fell to 4/128, before two substantial partnerships got the team over the line in the 46th over for the loss of five wickets.
Tharaka Sendanayake made 46 from 47 balls in a 70 run fifth wicket partnership with Josh Place.
Place and Steve Murphy then put on an unbeaten 75 for the sixth wicket to seal the win.
Place made a season high 60 from 80 balls, with Murphy unbeaten on 37 from 38.
“The running between the wickets between JP (Josh Place) and Churchy (Murphy) was elite, they put a lot of pressure on the fielders.
“JP played the spinners well, he just keeps getting better and better.”
The win puts Pomborneit into third position, with the Bulls having the bye this week.
In division two, Pomborneit scored a 25 run win over Cobden at the Timboon High School Oval.
Batting first, the Bulls made 236 from their 40 overs, led by an innings of 60 from 75 balls, including nine boundaries, to captain Charlie Voutier.
Fellow opener Fletcher Tolland looked good in making 30 from 22 balls, with Tom Darcy, 23 from 15 balls, and Gavin Reynolds, 35 from 38 balls, scoring well in the middle order.
George Sadler finished the innings off well with 32 from 27 balls.
Opening bowlers Gavin Reynolds and Charlie Voutier made early breakthroughs to have Cobden 3/15 before the Knights put together some solid partnerships.
The Bulls managed to bowl Cobden out for 211 in the 39th over to secure the win;Voutier leading the bowling with 3/32 from seven overs.
This week the division two Bulls play Boorcan at Boorcan.
In division three, Pomborneit Gold were well beaten by Heytesbury-Princetown, while Pomborneit Maroon had a big win over Cobden.
Batting first at Princetown, Gold could only manage 117.
The Storm passed the score in the 29th over for the loss of four wickets.
At South Purrumbete, a career first century to Craig Boyd led Maroon to a score of 7/217.
Opening the batting, Boyd made 101 from 94 balls, hitting 14 fours and two sixes, featuring in a 108 run opening partnership with Jonty Raven who made 37.
Bailey Fox was unbeaten on 35 when the innings was closed.
Maroon seamers Hugo Saarikallio and Andy Raven then ran through the Cobden line-up, taking nine wickets between them as Cobden were dismissed for 82.
Saarikallio took 4/21 from six overs, while left-armer Raven took his first five wicket haul for the club with 5/14 from 4.4 overs.
In this week’s division three matches, Gold host Camperdown at Pomborneit, while Maroon play the Storm at Princetown.
On Tuesday night, Pomborneit had a 64 run win over Irrewarra Red at CSC Oval.
Batting first, the Bulls made 6/177 from their 30 overs.
Jonty Raven with 37, Max Rees with 33, Josh Reynolds with 23 and Levi Cootesmith with 19 all hit the 30 ball retirement mark.
In reply the home team was dismissed for 113, Max Rees and Ollie West taking two wickets each.
This Tuesday the under 17 Bulls take on top of the ladder Colac at CMTP Oval.
In the under 16s on Sunday, Pomborneit scored a thrilling last ball win over Cobden at Cobden.
The home team batted first, making 7/126 from its 30 overs.
On a tough wicket to bat on, the Bulls steadily pushed towards Cobden’s score, led by 50 retired from 88 balls to opener Josh Reynolds.
With scores level, the field up and only one ball left, Sam Tolland got bat on ball with he and Dermot Conheady scampering through for the winning run.
This Sunday the under 16 Bulls play Bookaar at Frederick St.
In the under 14s on Friday night, Pomborneit had a tight win over Alvie at Pomborneit.
The visitors batted first, making 8/112.
The Bulls replied with 7/115, led by 34 retired to Bailey Fox and 20 retired to captain Noah Boyd.
In tonight’s under 14 game, Pomborneit play Apollo Bay at Pomborneit.
On Monday night, the under 13 Bulls lost to Boorcan at Pomborneit, 6/103 to 2/109.
This Monday the under 13 Bulls play Heytesbury-Princetown at Timboon.
The Pomborneit Gold women have started 2026 with a 128 run win over West Warrion at Warrion.
Batting first, Gold shuffled its batting order, posting 3/180 from their 25 overs.
First year player Lenise Mantell was elevated to open, scoring 32 retired from 39 balls.
Shelby Mahony also made her first score of 30 retired and Neave Thompson finished the innings off well with an unbeaten 21.
“It was a good chance to shuffle our order around and make sure everyone got a good hit,” Gold captain Sam Coxon said.
A strong bowling performance, with all 10 players sending down some overs, saw West Warrion restricted to 7/52.
Tayla Reynolds led the attack with 2/7 from four overs.
This Sunday the Gold team play Colac at CMTP Oval.
Pomborneit Maroon lost at CMTP Oval to Colac last Sunday.
Batting first, the visitors crashed to 8/22 before Debra Reynolds and Lilli Saarikallio added respectability with a 41 run ninth wicket partnership.
Reynolds was last out for 15, with Saarikallio unbeaten on 23.
Colac passed the score five wickets down, eventually bowled out in the 21st over for 84.
Teenage opening bowlers Saarikallio and Isabella Wain were very impressive, taking 2/20 and 2/5 respectively.
Budding leg-spinner Marissa Whitehead also impressed with 3/16.
This Sunday the Maroon women host Irrewarra at Pomborneit.
Pomborneit’s under 17 girls resume tonight after the holiday break, playing Bookaar at Frederick St.
In the under 13 girls on Sunday, Pomborneit had an eight run loss to Tomahawk Creek at Pomborneit.
Scarlett Saarikallio took two wickets in the visitors score of 6/98.
Pomborneit fell just short in reply with 6/90, Pippa Murphy top scoring with 12.
This Sunday the under 13 girls play Irrewarra at Colac Secondary College Oval.
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