Sport
21 January, 2026
Tigers batsmen show good form
SIMPSON’S top grade cricketers returned after the Christmas break, having a 96 run loss to City United in the round 10 match of the Colac-South West premier cricket competition at the Simpson Recreation Reserve.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, posting 4/328 from their 50 overs.
The Knights total was set up by a 187 run second wicket partnership between Dylan Slater and Darcy Murnane.
Slater made 122 from 100 balls, with Murnane making 73 from 109 balls.
“I thought we bowled well with our slightly undermanned attack” Simpson captain Jackson Rock said.
“Whopper (Nick Harding) didn’t arrive at the game until the 40th over so he didn’t bowl and we were missing Zac Anderson.”
Rock was impressed with Slater and Murnane.
“Slater is a quality bat, he didn’t give a chance.
“Murnane just palmed the strike, they were able to capitilise on having wickets in hand at the end of the innings.”
Rock was the most economical of the Simpson bowlers, conceding 37 runs and taking a wicket in his 10 overs.
Thomas Weel took 2/57 from 10 overs, with Kris Ackerly taking the other wicket to fall.
After a Nick Harding cameo at the top of the order (36 from 29 balls with six fours and a six), the City United bowlers kept Simpson tied down.
The Tigers managed to bat their overs, finishing on 6/232.
Opener Chathura Wadu carried his bat through the innings, scoring his second ton of the season with an unbeaten 107 from 125 balls.
Wadu’s innings included 11 boundaries.
“Wadu pushes the ball around very well and runs extremely hard between wickets.
“He batted very very well.”
Rock was pleased with the application of the Simpson batsmen.
“Everyone worked hard and batted well.
“You’re up against it chasing a 300 plus score, had we contained their batters a bit more there’s not that much in it.”
Rock was happy to take the positives out of the game.
“Our guys are still getting used to the extra 10 overs (stepping up from division two).
“While were not quite putting full games together we are not getting blown out of the water and continuing to build our game.”
With Saturday being the first week of the split round and Simpson having the bye in round 11, the next match for the Tigers isn’t until February 7.
In division two, Simpson played Tomahawk Creek at Forrest, with the Creek running out victors by 112 runs.
Batting first, Tomahawk Creek made 4/264.
Kye Baines, Ben Vogels, Shaun Baines and David Weel took a wicket each for Simpson.
The Tigers replied with 6/152 from their 40 overs.
Enzo Nolan top scored with 36 not out from 43 balls, hitting a four and two sixes, with Shaun Baines scoring 32 from 66 balls.
The division three Tigers had earlier played the match against Apollo Bay at Apollo Bay on January 10. Simpson batted first and were bundled out for 87 in the 31st over. Roshan Sidhu top scored with 29 from 49 balls, with Steve Newcombe the only other player to make double figures with 24. Apollo Bay cruised to victory in just the 16th over, finishing at 3/106 when play was called. Captain Owen Leighton took 2/27 from four overs, with Olinto Ferrari taking the other wicket.
This week’s matches see Simpson’s premier team have the week off during the split round, the division two Tigers host Stoneyford at Simpson and division three play City United at Elliminyt.
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