First Premier win for Bulls

POMBORNEIT registered its first win in the Colac-South West premier cricket competition with a 15 run victory over Alvie at the Pomborneit Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

Bulls skipper Grant Place won the toss and elected to bat in the round three match, with the home team bowled out in the 48th over for 184.

For the second time in three weeks, opener Tim Place anchored the innings with a half century, scoring 62 from 97 balls with nine fours and a six.

“Tim is playing as well as he has for a few years,” Grant Place said.

“He’s been solid early but has the ability to accelerate, he’s probably been our best batsman so far this season.”

Fellow opener Dave Murphy scored 18 from 20 balls, while Josh Place held the innings together through the middle and later overs with an unbeaten 33 from 77 balls.

Tharaka Sendanayake played his best knock of the season to date with 33 from 39 balls, including two sixes.

“JP (Josh Place) was vital with the way he played, he really dug in when we needed it.

“Making 184 was probably a bit below par but we felt we had the bowlers to defend that.”

The Bulls got an early wicket through Roshen Fernando, Alvie opener Jensen Monaghan caught behind to have the visitors at 1/11.

A strong second wicket partnership of 62 between Sam Parker and Liam McGuane had the Swans right in the game.

“Parker and McGuane batted well, they were brutal on anything short.”

Spin trio Lahiru Fernando, Josh Reynolds and Tharaka Sendanayake played a big role in stemming the flow of runs.

Fernando took 1/19 from 9.1 overs, Reynolds conceded 33 from 10 overs and Sendanayake took 2/24 from his 10.

“Larry (Fernando) and Senda (Sendanayake) were at their best, Senda has been a little bit off with his bowling in the previous games but on Saturday he was spot on.

“Josh again bowled really well, he hasn’t had any luck so far but bowls tightly and has been impressive against both Colac and Alvie.”

Tom Darcy also played a big role, running out McGuane for 49 then taking 3/12 from his five overs.

“Tom has looked good with the ball so far this season, he was just on the spot on Saturday and certainly played his role.”

This week the Bulls play Woorndoo at Woorndoo.

“Every game is important for us at the moment,” Place said.

“We won’t take them lightly, they put in a good effort against a very good team in Stoneyford last week.”

The division two Bulls had the bye, while in division three Pomborneit Gold had a win while Pomborneit Maroon had a loss.

Gold bowled first against Camperdown at SA Wright Oval and dismissed the home team for just 59.

Stephen Walters took 5/9 from eight overs, Lily Van Es took her best figures in men’s cricket with 3/10 from eight overs with a wicket each to Sam Tolland and Miller Murphy.

Tolland’s wicket was his first at senior level.

The Gold Bulls passed the home team’s score in the 20th over without losing a wicket, opener Ollie Delaney leading the charge with 35 not out from 63 balls with six boundaries.

Maroon batted first against Heytesbury-Princetown at South Purrumbete, making 7/129 from their 40 overs.

Tony Evans top scored with 50 retired from 97 balls, while junior player Jonty Raven, on his senior debut, impressed with 30 from 52 balls.

The Storm passed Maroon’s score in the 22nd over for the loss of five wickets.

Left arm seamer Patrick Spokes took 2/21 from three overs, with Isaac Cootesmith, Bailey Thorburn and George Sadler taking a wicket each.

Dani John, Billy Scott and Chris Gliwa made their Pomborneit debuts in this game.

This week’s matches will see the division two Bulls play Cobden at South Purrumbete, while Pomborneit Gold and Pomborneit Maroon play each other at Pomborneit, the first time two Pomborneit senior men’s teams will line up against each other since the final season of the former Timboon/Stoneyford Cricket Association in 1995/96.