Sport
5 March, 2026
Season ends for Lions’ top side
THE Noorat Terang Cricket Club’s firsts and seconds have finished their 2025/26 campaign, while the third 11 will play in the semi-final against Warrnambool.
The division one premier Lions continued their match against Allansford-Panmure, playing an opponent that was already very close to a first innings win.
With only 27 runs needed with nine wickets in hand, they lost two early wickets before passing the total.
After 77 overs Allansford-Panmure were bowled out for 315.
The bulk of the runs came from just three players, with Chris Bant and Daniel Meade both making hundreds for the Gators.
The most effective bowler for Noorat Terang was Oscar Ritchie with 3/25 from nine overs.
Gus Bourke bowled 20 overs and took 2/79.
Junior Lachlan Primmer, in his top grade debut, took 1/33 and two catches to show promise for nextseason.
Tyson Hay, Liam Geary, Tim Delaney and Ben Woodward also featured among the wickets.
With 26 overs remaining, the young players were set the task to bat, however they failed and once again it was the older players who managed to add some respectability to the scoreline.
Gus Bourke top scored with 31 from 59 balls.
Ben Woodward, in his last game before returning to the UK, made 28 from 39 balls with two big sixes.
At stumps the Lions were 5/87; Allansford-Panmure winning on first innings by 205 runs.
The Lions premier team ended the season in eighth spot, missing the top six by seven points.
The division two Lions travelled to Bushfield to play North Warrnambool.
The home side batted first and faced a young bowling attack.
Darcy Abbott took 2/22 from nine overs, Ollie Clarke 2/25, Jack Farrell 0/32 and Flynn Gleeson 1/15 as North Warrnambool was kept to 5/163 from 45 overs.
The Lions lost both openers early in the run chase to be 2/24.
Dom Moloney steadied the ship with 31 from 42 balls.
It was the in-form Brett Hunger, who made his highest score of 61 not out off 73 balls, that got the side home.
He had assistance from Martin Wynd and Hugh Giblin who made 11 each, and Dom Kenna 20 not out off 25 balls with two sixes.
Victory came with more than 10 overs to spare and five wickets in hand.
The division two Lions finished sixth on the ladder despite having the same points as the fourth placed team.
Noorat Terang’s division four team travelled to Purnim to play the Northern Raiders.
The home side batted first and the bowlers again kept their opponents to under 100.
The left arm medium pace of Jesse Unthank proved too much as he finished with the equal second best figures for the club with 6/10 from eight overs.
This was his second five wicket haul in his career.
Sam Munro finished with 2/16 from eight overs, with Dean Abbott taking one wicket.
The Raiders were bowled out for 77 and it took Noorat Terang just 15.2 overs to chase down the total.
Sam Munro retired on 36 from 30 balls to top score.
Caleb Bamford and Toby Roberts were both 12 not out when victory was achieved.
This win took them to third on the ladder and they will play Warrnambool at a yet to be decided venue.
Of the grounds left, Warrnambool has either Nirranda or Bushfield to choose from.
This evening will be presentation night for all the junior sides at the Terang clubrooms starting at 6pm.