Sport
13 March, 2025
Grand final awaits Lions
THE Noorat Terang Cricket Club’s division four side has won its way through to its first grand final.
The side will take on Dennington in the Warrnambool Moyne association’s final at Brierly Reserve on Saturday.
Last weekend also saw the club’s division one team enjoy a big win, with Tyson Hay bringing up a century, while division two fell 17 short of its run chase and are now out of finals contention.
Division four was home to Hawkesdale in its semi-final encounter where, in a first for the district, they were officiated by two female umpires.
Dean Abbott played a major role in scoring, bringing up 90 from 111 balls with eight boundaries and a six.
His son Darcy made a valuable 18 not out combining with Declan O’Connor 10 (run out on the last ball) to add 27 runs to set a good total of 7/165 in 40 overs.
The young opening bowlers, Darcy Abbott 2/14 and Charlie Roberts 2/21, led the way off eight overs.
This was supported by the experienced bowling of Tom Conheady 2/17 from eight and Eamonn O’Connor 2/12 which ensured the Lions would play in their first division four grand final.
The game will start at 12.30 this Saturday.
Division one, resuming at 1/37 and chasing 146, did so without losing a wicket.
Bailey Kavenagh, 64 from 164 balls and Liam Geary, 76 from 119 (including eight boundaries and a six) took the score to 153.
After the tea break Tyson Hay smashed his 100 retired off only 67 balls in an innings that included eight boundaries and four sixes.
He and Gus Bourke added 104 for the fourth wicket.
Gus contributed 22 from 40 balls, Ned Roberts 29no off 38 balls and with Luke Kenna 24 from 27 being the last wicket, it was decided to end play early at 5/344.
This was Stephen O’Connor’s 200th game – with 27 matches for the Lions and 173 for Noorat.
Stephen has been co-captain for the Lions’ during its two year existence.
He also spent two years at Noorat, leading the team into finals.
Stephen has made 3107 runs at an average 19.1, with his maiden century coming last season.
A rarely used bowler, he has just eight wickets to his name, but his fielding in the mid-off and mid-on has resulted in 57 catches and six run-outs.
The final game before finals will see the top placed Lions host fourth-placed Mortlake at the Turf in a one-day game.
It appears these two sides will face off in the semi-final the following weekend in a two-day game.
The seconds lost the toss and bowled first.
In a match decided by 17 runs, extras was Nestles’ second highest scorer with 24, with the best bat being 27.
In hindsight 18 wides and no-balls proved costly.
Chief wicket taker was Jonathon McConnell with 4-34 which included three off four balls in the last over.
Martin Wynd also took 2/25 and brought up his 100th career catch, taking three in the game.
Nestles finished at 9/151 on the large ground, which only yielded seven boundaries.
The Lions needed to set up the run chase with a good opening stand.
They steadied after being 1/11 to get to 33 and then 3/67.
The middle order struggled and at 7/117 a lot rested on the shoulders of Hugh Giblin again, but his demise at 133 saw only one run added to be all out for 134 with just over five overs remaining.
Hugh made 34 off 32 deliveries, with three boundaries, while Liam Venn contributed 24 from 36 (including three fours) and Harry Schrama added 19 from 46 balls.