Close final for Gators

ALLANSFORD Panmure’s under 17 cricketers fell just a few runs short of a grand final victory last weekend.

By Staff Writer

The young Gators, who finished the home and away season undefeated on top of the Warrnambool District League ladder, earned their spot in the grand final after a semi-final win over West Warrnambool the previous week.

The Gators faced Mortlake Cobden at Warrnambool’s Reid Oval last Sunday morning and put on a great display of skill with both bat and ball.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, the Gators’ openers Archie Poumako (3) and Jake Carman (4) were both caught by Mortlake Cobden’s Campbell Walsh off the bowling of Ryan Mottram.

Vice-captain Matthew Gome settled and made a well-earned 44 runs from 70 deliveries in a spell that included three boundaries.

He was well-supported on the scoreboard by team-maters Connor Brisbane (45) and Sam Willsher (21).

Also contributing to the run tally were Morgan Cook (7), Logan Kermond (5 not out) and David Boyd (3 not out).

At the end of their 45 overs the Gators were 7/142.

In reply, Mortlake Cobden got off to a relative slow start with the bat, with opener Taj Podger run out on seven and fellow opener Campbell Walsh caught on 12.

Cobden’s Edmund Walsh steadied with a handy 24 runs, Edmund Walsh made 24 and Parker Walsh made 29 while team captain Oscar Ritchie contributed 17.

Mortlake’s Josh Slater proved instrumental on the scoreboard, making a quick unbeaten 30 from 26 balls in an innings that included three boundaries.

Cobden Mortlake finished the day on 6/145 in the 44th over to claim the premiership.

Best of the bowlers for the Gators were Mack Mills who took 2/24 from eight overs, Izsak Dean 1/23 from eight, Jake Carman 1/25 from nine and Connor Brisbane 1/30 from nine.