Sport
23 January, 2026
Bulls crash out in Sungold Twenty20
POMBORNEIT were bundled out in the first round of the Sungold Cup Twenty20 finals in Warrnambool on Sunday, going down to Warrnambool Moyne District Cricket Association team Northern Raiders by 79 runs.
Bulls skipper Grant Place won the toss and sent the Raiders in to bat on a very green looking wicket.
The move backfired, with the Raiders posting 2/204 from their 20 overs, led by 122 from 66 balls to opener Jacob Fishwick.
The former Noorat CC player hit six sixes and 13 balls in his explosive innings.
“It was a high quality knock, he hit the ball cleanly and didn’t give a chance” Place said.
“I thought our bowling was generally quite good, Fishwick just had a day out and hit us wherever he wanted to.”
After two early wickets, Place and Lahiru Fernando had the Pomborneit reply on target for a time with a 42 run third wicket partnership before Fernando was bowled around his legs for 26 from 16 balls.
When Place was dismissed for 25 from 26 balls, the Bulls had collapsed to 6/81.
Tom Darcy hit 30 not out at the end of the innings from 21 balls as Pomborneit finished their 20 overs on 8/125.
“In the end, it was a huge score to chase and we needed everything to go our way to get close.”
While disappointed to again fall at the first hurdle at the Sungold tournament, Place said the Bulls would benefit from the hitout.
“It had a been a big break from our last game (the South West CA Twenty20 grand final on December 20) so the lead in wasn’t ideal, the Northern Raiders had played two full 50 over games since Christmas.”
“I can’t fault the effort the boys put in on the back of no recent cricket.”
The Bulls play their first game for 2026 in the Colac-South West premier competition tomorrow against Bookaar at Frederick Street.
Pomborneit’s division two team have the bye over the January 17 and 24 split round and resume on January 31.
Both of Pomborneit’s division three teams scored strong wins on Saturday in their return from the Christmas break.
Pomborneit Gold scored an 88 run win over Ecklin at Pomborneit.
Batting first, Gold were struggling at 5/64 before a 109 run sixth wicket partnership between Steve Murphy and junior player Sam Tolland consolidated the innings.
Murphy made an innings high 71 from 67 balls, hitting 10 boundaries, while Tolland made his highest score of 35 from 63 balls.
Gold finished their 40 overs on 9/212.
Opening bowlers Stephen Walters and Ollie Delaney ripped through the Ecklin top order, reducing the Frogs to 8/35.
Walters took 4/13 from his eight overs, with Delaney taking a career best 4/22 from his eight.
Ecklin’s experienced bottom three dug in and batted out the overs, finishing on 9/124.
At Boorcan, Pomborneit Maroon had a six wicket win over the Dragons.
The home team batted first, making 7/168 from their 40 overs.
Maroon skipper Donnie McInnes led the bowlers with 4/27 from eight overs.
A 108 run second wicket partnership between teenagers Jonty Raven and Nate Castle put the game in Maroon’s control in the run chase.
Raven made a career best 79 from 64 balls, hitting nine boundaries, while Castle made 58 from 42 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
Maroon passed the score in the 24th over for the loss of four wickets.
The next game for both division three teams is on January 31.
Pomborneit’s under 17 boys resumed on Tuesday night, scoring a 34 run win over Irrewarra Black at CSC Oval.
Batting first, the junior Bulls made 5/175 from their 30 overs.
The top three all reached the 30 ball retirement mark, with George Sadler making 27, Jonty Raven 24 and Fletcher Tolland 33.
A strong bowling performance saw the Bulls dismiss the Redbacks for 141 in the 23rd over.
Skipper Levi Cootesmith led the way with 3/15 from four overs, with Jonty Raven taking two wickets.
On Monday night, Pomborneit’s under 13 boys had a 22 run win over Bookaar at Pomborneit.
Batting first, the junior Bulls made 8/104 from their 24 overs.
Bailey Fox top scored with 23 retired, Crawford Dunn made 20, Jack Hillman 18 and Gus Murphy was not out on 16.
In reply, Bookaar were restricted to 6/82.
Gus Murphy, Lucas Place, Hamish Christensen and Billy Hillman taking a wicket each.
This week’s junior boys games see the under 16 boys play Heytesbury-Princetown at Pomborneit on Sunday, the under 13 boys have the week off while the under 17 boys head to Apollo Bay on Tuesday night.
Pomborneit’s women’s and girls teams don’t resume until next weekend.
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