Sport
21 March, 2024
Inaugural Premiership
NOORAT Terang Lions Cricket Club is celebrating its first premiership in the Warrnambool District League as an amalgamated club.
The Lions are 2023/24 division three premiers after defeating Nirranda in last Saturday’s grand final match at Mack Oval.
A hard-hitting century from opener Bernard Harris led the side to a well-earned victory over the Knights.
After finishing the home and away season on top of the league ladder, the Lions went in expecting a close encounter with the second-placed Nirranda.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Lions were tested early by the accuracy of the Knights’ bowlers, with opener Simon Densley dismissed early, leaving the side at 1/6.
But it was Harris who steered the ship with the bat, hitting 103 runs from just 115 deliveries in an innings that included eight boundaries.
Other contributors to the scoreboard included Matthew Baxter (17), Dom Kenna (14), Martin Wynd (8), Ben Kenna (9) and Thomas Clissold (8).
Both Liam Venn and Warren Attrill were unbeaten on 23.
The Lions finished their 40 overs with a defendable total of 7/209.
In reply, Nirranda were restricted to just 10/110 in the 31st over thanks to some accurate bowling and fielding from the Lions.
Martin Wynd was highly effective with the ball, taking 4/4 from just under four overs, while Simon Densley chipped in with 2/11 from five and Thomas Clissold 2/17 from six.
Warren Attrill also finished the day with figures of 1/33 from his eight overs.
The premiership gave the Lions their first as not only a newly amalgamated club, but their first in the Warrnambool District competition.
Division two captain, Liam Geary, paid tribute to his fellow club-mates and praised the division three side for their continued hard work and ultimate success.
“That side has done remarkably well this season and to take a premiership as a new club in a new league (for us) is just incredible,” Geary said.
“Full credit to them all. Harris led from the start with the bat and they all really stepped up and played some amazing cricket.”
Geary is hoping his team will follow suit this weekend when it takes on Hawkesdale for division two premiership honours.
“To win two from two would be incredible, not just for all the players but the club as a whole,” Geary said.
“We just need to go in and play our own game, stick to our plan, bat and bowl well and hopefully the win will come our way.”
The team earned its spot in this weekend’s big game after a first innings win over Koroit in the semi-final.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Koroit fell in the 54th over, dismissed at 10/86.
In reply, the Lions made 10/125 to take victory.
Hoping to pick up some quick runs, Koroit went in for a second innings and were 3/112 after 14 overs, however the Lions held on and reached 0/16 in the 12th.
“It was an exciting match because we hadn’t played Koroit before, just like we haven’t played Hawkesdale,” Geary said.
“Because there are 19 teams in division two the competition was divided into two sections, which then come together for finals.”
Geary made special mention of the efforts of opener Bailey Kavenagh and ‘young gun’ Max Heffernan who both showed great patience at the crease.
“Bailey is always reliable with bat and ball and young Max, who is only about 15, really showed patience at the crease and has really stepped up for us this season,” Geary said.
“The entire team really did so many things right on the weekend and it paid dividends. We’re looking forward to the grand final and hopefully bringing home the club’s second premiership for the season.”
The division two grand final, to be held on the turf wicket at Allansford on Saturday, will start at 12.30pm.