Baker, 37, has been the backbone of the club in recent years as it nurtured a number of talented teenagers in South West Cricket’s division one competition.

But after getting a taste of finals action last season following a late surge, Baker said the hard work in developing the youngsters was paying off.

He was the oldest in Saturday’s side by a long way, with the rest of his teammates 21 or younger.

“It’s a young side but they all love their cricket,” he said.

“We didn’t have a junior side for a few years. When I finished playing footy I decided to stick to cricket and make it a bit of a focus and all the juniors I coached are playing A grade with me now.”

He said Bookaar’s increasing success was due to the youngsters’ natural progression as cricketers.

Baker led the way on Saturday, making 99 opening the innings as his side made a match-winning 5-261 off its 50 overs. 

Captain Fraser Lucas made 51 and teenager Henry Green (49) was also impressive. Lucas and Baker shared a 144-run stand for the second wicket before Lucas was dismissed.

Baker was out a short time later, unaware he was on 99. “I thought I was pretty close,” he said.

“It was a full toss on my hip and you usually try and smash them.”

He did, but was caught on the backward square leg boundary.

Baker was not too perturbed. It was the second time he has been out for 99 in his career but he has made “24 or 25” centuries.

Bookaar, with lanky left-arm paceman Joe Muir taking 3-13 off 10 overs, had Pomborneit in early trouble at 5-48. 

But the Bulls’ Steve Walters made 55 as he shared a couple of significant partnerships before they were dismissed for 175.

Top side Bookaar faces reigning premier Mortlake on Saturday. 

The Cats are also undefeated after finishing at 8-177, chasing Noorat’s 135. But it was far from comfortable for Mortlake, slumping to 5-83 after losing 3-2, before Shane Slater made an unbeaten 55.

In other games, Terang maintained its undefeated start to the season with a 24-run victory over Heytesbury Rebels. 

Jay Wynd’s 34 underpinned Terang’s 131 from 46 overs before its opening bowlers Tyson Hay (2-26) and Brett Hunger (3-24) ripped through the Rebels’ top order. 

The Rebels slumped to 5-20 and 6-36 before Daniel Balcombe (26) and Sam Newey (32) combined for a 48-run seventh-wicket partnership that threatened to change the game.

Cobden claimed its first win of the season with a 125-run win against Simpson. 

Cobden batted first and thanks to 81 from opener Kaplan McCann and an unbeaten 61 from Brent Goonan, posted 6-219. Matthew Ross-Watson then chimed in with 5-19 from 5.4 overs as Simpson was skittled for 94 in 25.4 overs