Another Russells Creek hat-trick in dominant season

Just four weeks after the latter’s feat, Petherick claimed his hat-trick in a 52-run win over West Warrnambool in Saturday’s Warrnambool and District Cricket Association match.

“You don’t see that many hat-tricks in your life playing cricket, and we’ve got two in a month,” delighted Russells Creek coach Jayaweera Bandara said.

Petherick’s first dismissal came via a Cam Williams stumping, while the next two were clean-bowled.

The Panthers were 1-122 chasing Creek’s 222 before Josh Campbell stepped in, claiming 5-27 and turning things in Creek’s favour.

“This year, every week somebody else is putting their hand up,” Bandara said.

“We don’t expect one person to score the runs or get the wickets.”

West Warrnambool captain-coach Alastair Templeton paid credit to Russells Creek’s great performance, but was happy with how his charges met the challenge before them.

“It was a really flat pitch – I don’t think anyone could’ve done much more than bowl line and length and bowl to a field,” he said.

“Once batsmen got in on it, it was hard to get them out.”

The same held true for the Panthers after losing an early wicket and, while they also recovered after losing Templeton and Threlfall in quick succession, the run rate needed by the middle and lower order proved to be too much.