In his first game of division one cricket, Lewis did the job with the ball, snagging 6-27 from 13 overs. This performance helped the Eels bowl East Warrnambool-YCW out for 173, well short of the target of 209 it was set.

East Warrnambool-YCW looked to be coasting along to victory early on Saturday at Jones Oval with openers Charith Ruchiranga (52) and Jethro Searle (43) building a 98-run partnership for the first wicket.

But it was Lewis who got a double breakthrough, knocking over both openers within a run of each other to get his team back in the game.

From there, the Eels bowlers seized control, five of the remaining East Warrnambool-YCW batsmen out for single figures.

Woodford captain Nick Butters was happy with the fightback.

“It was a really good win in the end, we started slowly and I was a bit worried when they were none for nearly 100 with Mark Murphy still in the shed,” Butters said.

“But once we got those first couple of wickets we started to bowl where we wanted to, a better two-day line and we were able to put them under pressure.”

It was just the second game of cricket for the season for Lewis, his only other appearance coming in division two the previous round.  

Lewis has won the last two WDCA cricketer of the year awards.

“He likes his footy so cricket has just been something he has cruised along with,” Butters said.

“Hopefully now though he can keep going and play one’s for the rest of the season.

“He bowls medium pace and swings it a bit and he also bats alright, he is probably more a batsman than a bowler.”  

Russells Creek is in third place on the Merri conference ladder after a comfortable win over Nirranda.

Russells Creek began play on Saturday on 0-41 chasing Nirranda’s score of 100. Number three batsman Nathan Divall made 74 as Russells creek ended on 4-182 declared before sending Nirranda back in.

In its second innings, Nirranda finished on 6-109 with Ranil Rasanga top scoring for the Knights with 25.