POMBORNEIT coach Max Castle has praised the role of top-order batsman David Murphy in the Bulls’ South West Cricket top-of-the-table win against Mortlake.
Murphy slashed 79, including four sixes, to spark a successful run chase in a high-scoring match at Pomborneit Recreation Reserve.
Mortlake made 6-237 after winning the toss and batting first on a quick Princes Highway oval, with six batsmen passing 20.
Young opener Tyler Schafer top scored with 53 while sidekick Josh Barr made 44, with the pair combining for 80 for the first wicket.
But the Bulls conjured an against-the-odds victory, thanks in a large part to Murphy who got the response off to a positive start.
Opener Steve Castle made a patient 44 while Steve Murphy hit 37 as the home side finished on 7-256.
Max Castle said David Murphy was at his best playing his natural hard-hitting game. “I would say David Murphy was the turning point,” he said.
“He held up an end really well — he went out at 160 and only made 40 or so. It was very important someone held an end up.
“But David Murphy played very well. He played the aggressor and when Steve Murphy came out he played the aggressor.”
Castle said Mortlake deserved to remain as the flag favourite, despite the result. He believed Pomborneit was heading in the right direction after a young Bookaar side upstaged it a week earlier.
“I believe just the structure of the team is slowly coming together,” he said.
“I don’t read much into it, I still look upon Mortlake as the best side in it.
“Basically their depth, they’re a very good side Mortlake. I think they’ve got every right to be fairly confident with the way they’re going.”
In other South West Cricket matches, Cobden continued its surprise run to finals with a 43-run win against Camperdown at Cobden turf.
Brent Goonan made 53 and captain Leigh Walsh posted 48 as the home side reached 173. Camperdown was all out for 130 in reply.
Heytesbury Rebels upstaged Terang by 96 runs in a one-sided match at Terang turf.
Simon Harkness, 62, and Jeff Rosolin, 54, spearheaded the Rebels to 6-183, despite the efforts of Sam Munro who took 4-41.
Terang was all out for 87 in reply — a score only reached thanks to Darren Frith who made 36.
And Simon Densley took three wickets in one over to lead Noorat to a memorable win against Boorcan.
Boorcan was 6-265 chasing 278 when Densley bowled a triple-wicket maiden to leave the Dragons 9-265 with one over to go at Boorcan.
A run-out with three balls remaining left the home side all out for 274, four runs short. Shane Hutchins, 83, and Steve O’Connor 79, led the scoring for Noorat. Paddy Heffernan made 89 for Boorcan while Densley finished with 4-29.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au
