The talented young bowler’s hat-trick on Saturday was perfectly timed as he looks to earn his Melbourne Country Week debut.

The momentum-shattering feat proved vital as the Eels broke a promising Nirranda partnership, eventually winning by 19 runs.

He had Damon Cooper out caught behind, before clean-bowling Jarryd Walsh and Steph Townsend, seeing Nirranda slip from 2-52 to 5-52.

“It was a crucial period of the game, too,” Woodford coach John Houston said.

“They were sort of ahead of the (required) run rate – they were scoring okay.”

Houston lauded Fowler’s efforts in the game, his return of 4-13 off seven overs coinciding with a knock of 33 – the second highest score from an Eel for the match.

It was another big step forward as the teenager prepares for Woodford’s one-day final against Russells Creek this Sunday and looks to crack into the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association’s Melbourne Country Week side.

In a practice match for the WDCA on Sunday, he only bowled the final four deliveries of the day, but took two wickets for no runs.

“He’s always been a very good cricketer. He comes on (to bowl) after Conner (Richardson) and Hank (Schlaghecke); people think of him as our third fast bowler, but he’s close to being as good as they are,” Houston said.

“Saturday was probably close to the quickest I’ve seen him bowl.

“He’s still only 18 or 19; he’s going to naturally improve over the next four-to-five years.”

Fowler put extra work into his batting over summer and is already reaping the benefits, with the powerful left-hander capable of playing a bit up the order at five if quick runs are needed, or at six or seven as the game requires.

Houston said he had the potential to become a genuine all-rounder if he continues to put the hard yards in with his batting.

Woodford takes on Russells Creek in the one-day decider on Sunday as it looks to claim back-to-back titles.

“Our goal is to try to make as many of the finals as we can, if not all of them,” Houston said.

“We’ll be up and about.

“Hopefully it’ll be a really good game against Russells Creek. It’ll be a really exciting challenge for us.

“We’ve always had good games against Creek over the years.”