Bulls celebrate season 2025-26

THE 2025/26 season was wrapped up by the Pomborneit Cricket Club with senior presentations last Friday night and junior presentations on Sunday at the Pomborneit Recreation Reserve.

Division 2 - Most Wickets Stephen Hill and Levi Cootesmith

Lahiru Fernando took out the major men’s award, winning his fourth division one Cricketer of the Year award and second consecutive.

Tayla Reynolds won the major women’s award for the first time, taking out the Pomborneit Gold premiership winning team’s Cricketer of the Year award.

“Larry (Fernando) is an exceptional bowler and a huge asset for us with ball in hand, we just know he’s always going to deliver,” Pomborneit division one skipper Grant Place said.

“He showed glimpses with the bat this year but definitely has the potential to be way better in that aspect of his game, he’d be the complete package if he could get going there.”

Fernando led the vote count with 18 votes, with Tharaka Sendanayake runner up with 16 votes.

Fernando led the wicket takers for the top-grade Bulls with 32, with Sendanayake winning the most runs award with 508.

Sendanayake and Place also received century trophies and framed scorecards for their division one tons.

Fernando won a five wicket trophy for his 7/17 against Irrewarra.

Tayla Reynolds took out the Pomborneit Gold women’s Cricketer of the Year award with 17 votes, breaking skipper Sam Coxon and vice-captain Jess Moulden’s hold on the trophy as only the third ever winner.

“Tayla has got better every year,” Coxon said.

“The move to opening the batting is something she has embraced, and I reckon she’s added a yard of pace this season, none of our opponents like facing her.”

Moulden took out the most runs award with 334, while Coxon won the wickets with 18, one ahead of Reynolds on 17.

First year captain Charlie Voutier won the division two Cricketer of the Year award with 15 votes, as well as the most runs with 391.

Stephen Hill and teenager Levi Cootesmith tied for the most wickets with 14 each.

Tom Darcy received a century award for his 160 against Boorcan, with George Sadler getting a five wicket award for his 6/31 against Heytesbury-Princetown.

Junior player Lilli Saarikallio was rewarded for a breakout senior season, winning the Pomborneit Maroon women’s Cricketer of the Year award with 19 votes.

Saarikallio also led the wicket takers with 13, with co-captain Janelle Whitehead winning the most runs with 107.

Saarikallio also received an award for her 5/12 against West Warrion.

Matt Richardson took out the Pomborneit Gold division three Cricketer of the Year award with 24 votes, and the most runs with 575.

Stephen Walters won the most wickets with 22.

Richardson and Tony Evans both received century awards, with Walters and Evans both getting five wicket awards.

In his first season of senior cricket, junior all-rounder Jonty Raven took out the Pomborneit Maroon division three Cricketer of the Year award with 12 votes, one ahead of his father Andy on 11 and fellow junior Bailey Fox on 10.

Fox won the batting award with 328 runs, with skipper Donnie McInnes and another junior in Hugo Saarikallio finishing equal in the most wickets with 17 each.

Century trophies went to Darren Fox for his 114 not out against Woorndoo, Craig Boyd for his 101 against Cobden and Bailey Fox for his 101 not out against Camperdown.

Left arm quick Andy Raven won a five wicket award for his 5/14 against Cobden.

Fletcher Tolland made it back-to-back under 17 boys Cricketer of the Year awards with 12 votes, also winning the most runs award with 205.

Skipper Levi Cootesmith led the wickets with 11.

Lilli Saarikallio made it two team champion awards, winning the under 17 girls Cricketer of the Year with 22 votes.

Saarikallio also won the most wickets with nine, with Isla Spokes winning the batting award with 197.

Josh Reynolds won the Simon Schlicht Memorial trophy as under 16 Cricketer of the Year with 21 votes, ahead of Max Rees on 15.

Reynolds also won the batting award with 348 runs, with Rees winning the bowling trophy with 15 wickets.

Bailey Fox took out the under 14 boys team champion award with 663 points, as well as the batting award with 428 runs.

Captain Noah Boyd and Wally Rees took the bowling honours with 11 wickets each.

Emily Reynolds won the under 13 girls team champion award with 277 points, as well as the most wickets with 11.

Zoe Unwin won the most runs trophy with 109.

Scarlett Whitehead won a hat-trick trophy, with Emily Reynolds winning a five wicket trophy for her 5/11 against Irrewarra.

Bailey Fox also took out the under 13 boys award with 329 points and the most runs with 194 in a competition he was not dismissed in.

Fox and Angus Murphy tied for the most wickets with five each.

Melissa and Annie Rees both received the Volunteer of the Year award for their work cooking the Thursday night dinners every week.

“We’re very lucky to have Melissa and Annie cooking for us every week,” Pomborneit president Dave Murphy said.

“It’s something we don’t have to worry about and the meals are first class and enjoyed by everyone.”

Steve Murphy was also welcomed as the 24th life member in the 143-year history of the Pomborneit Cricket Club.

Murphy was inducted by life member Luke Reynolds, who noted the inductee’s playing history and incredible off-field work over 25 years, including Murphy’s role in establishing and single handedly running the high successful club coterie group the ‘12th Man Club’ that has funded many major improvements and equipment purchases.