Sport
19 November, 2025
Love leads the way
A BLISTERING century to captain Matthew Love led Heytesbury-Princetown Storm to a nine wicket win at Apollo Bay on Saturday.
Batting first after winning the toss, the home team was dismissed for 167 in the 47th over in the round five Colac-South West premier cricket match.
Star recruit Matthew Price led the Storm’s bowling with 4/27 from 10 overs, with Paul Vogels and Tommy Illingworth taking two wickets each.
“Pricey was unplayable at times, he had a nice tail breeze off the ocean, he bowled with real pace,” Love said.
Getting some overs into teenage leg-spinner Illingworth was a big positive for Love.
“It was good to be able to give Tommy nine overs, it’s been tough to bowl him with conditions so far, he bowled really well.”
After losing Hamish Huffadine early, Love and Simon Harkness put on an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 167 to see the Storm pass the Sharks score in the 25th over.
Love smashed an unbeaten even 100 from 74 balls, hitting six sixes and nine fours in the run chase.
Harkness was unbeaten on 55 from 70 balls.
“Harko and I were able to score pretty quickly to put scoreboard pressure on them.
“That’s twice now Harko has played really strong knocks to see us home, he takes on the responsibility well. “
The travel continues for the Storm, this week heading up to play Woorndoo at Woorndoo.
“We’re covering all corners of the competition,” Love laughed.
“We enjoyed our trip to Apollo Bay, it was a beautiful day down there, and an important win to get.”
In division two, Storm Blue had a two wicket win over Storm Purple at the Timboon Recreation Reserve.
Purple batted first and was dismissed for 158 in the 40th over.
Brendan Hickey top scored with 37 from 82 balls, with Ryan Jones taking 4/16 from 6.3 overs.
Blue was seemingly cruising to victory at 0/97 before Ashley Price was out for 69 off 95 balls.
Purple then took regular wickets, led by 5/28 to Jason Stephens.
Blue scraped over the line in the final over, finishing on 8/160 to record the win.
In division three, Heytesbury-Princetown got the points after Woorndoo forfeited its scheduled match.
The under 16 game on Sunday and the under 13s on Monday night were both washed out.
This week, in division two Storm Blue host Pomborneit at Timboon, while Purple have the bye.
In division three, the Storm play Boorcan at Boorcan.
The under 16s host Pomborneit at Timboon, while on Monday night the under 13s play Cobden at Timboon.
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