TEENAGERS Joe Medew-Ewen and Tim McLean have spearheaded Port Fairy to first-innings points for a second consecutive match.
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The two young guns had major roles as Port Fairy put itself in a commanding position at stumps on day one against Nirranda at Avery’s Paddock.
The Pirates will resume day two of the Merri conference match at 6-154, having already passed the Knights’ 151 all out.
Medew-Ewen took 4-23 from seven overs and was the most influential player on the ground during the most critical period of the day.
Nirranda had reached 2-103 thanks to skipper Jay Wynd (62) and Corey Couch (38) before Port Fairy captain Steve Mirtschin bowled Couch.
Medew-Ewen then got in on the act, dismissing David Haberfield and Jason Mungean for ducks with consecutive deliveries with the score on 113.
He then removed the Wynd in his next over to leave the Knights reeling at 6-113, although James Dalton (27 not out) ensured the visitors passed 150.
Completing the dominant day for Port Fairy was McLean, who made 84 as opener to be the rock of the Pirates’ run chase.
He shared in a 113-run partnership with his brother Matt McLean, who was likewise solid in making 45 at first drop.
Wickets fell in a flurry late in the day, although the Pirates did enough to pass the target and are in control after a dramatic afternoon.
Mirtschin had high praise for the teenagers, particularly Medew-Ewen who “turned the match” with an “awesome couple of overs”.
“In a game you always know there’s going to be one partnership that forms,” he said. ‘‘It’s how you react.
“Thankfully we got through it and at the end of it had a good day.
“That one partnership that formed, it really got things going in their favour.
‘‘The game could’ve gone either way.”
He said the McLean brothers played with confidence while batting, playing through the ball without taking risks.
“(Tim) gave a couple of chances early but once he got past 20 and into the 30s it was a really sound innings,” he said. “He’s just on 18 so you got to be happy to get that many runs.
‘‘He’s got a lot of years of cricket ahead of him, that hundred will come at some stage.”
But while the McLean brothers were influential for Port Fairy, the Threlfall brothers overshadowed their efforts for West Warrnambool.
Michael and Ben Threlfall added 180 for the third wicket as the Panthers posted 8-248 against Wesley-CBC at Davidson Oval.
Michael, the Panthers captain, top scored with 97 while Ben made 77. They took West to 205 and lost their wicket within balls of each other.
Joe Higgins was pick of the bowlers with 2-31 while Tom Bowman grabbed 3-71.
In the other match, Dennington skipper Dustin Drew led the way for the second match in a row against Nestles at Dennington.
Drew made 84 opening the innings in the Dogs’ 262. Josh Squires (33) and Michael Howley (30) were also solid contributors.
Geoff Williams, the Factory’s fourth-change bowler, took 5-40, doubling his season wickets tally in the space of an afternoon.