His team responded with enthusiasm and none more so than 16-year-old Declan Bourke, who took 2-21 from 10 overs and made 73 from 127 balls as an opener to help his side to victory against Wimmera Mallee on Tuesday.

Bourke, whose home club is Panmure in the Grassmere Cricket Association, said it was pleasing to get into form after scoring 13 and failing to take a wicket in Monday’s defeat to Portland. 

“It was just good to get the win after the loss yesterday, it was good to bounce back today,” the right-handed batsman said.

“It was a pretty good wicket so it was good for the spinners and it had a fair bit of turn which helped. I struggled a bit yesterday but it was good to get a few (runs) and a couple of wickets today.”

The left-arm spinner, who plays both division one and under 17 cricket for the Bulldogs, expects with the tournament shifting into twenty20 matches that he will find himself batting further down the order. 

Elsewhere, Western Waves player Vincent Huf scored a unbeaten century in Hamilton Green’s victory over Colac Black, which was bowled out for 138.

A half-century from Colac Gold’s Joshua Garner helped his side record its second victory of the tournament against Portland.

His 56 from 80 balls came in Gold’s successful run chase, after the teenager took 2-24 to restrict Portland to 9-143 in their 50 overs.

Warrnambool Blue was unable to chase down Hamilton Gold’s total of 9-152, after Ben Conboy 2-16 helped keep the total from blowing out to close to 200. 

A hat-trick from Gold’s Ben McCure (4-12) helped his side restrict Blue to 94 in the chase, before Hamilton returned to bat to make a quickfire 2-64 before stumps.

Half-centuries to Mortlake pair Oliver Mahncke and Isaac Wareham helped South West secure a 82-run victory over Warrnambool Gold.

Mahncke led the way with 82, while Wareham tagged along with 54 as they piled on an 121-run second-wicket partnership in reply to Gold’s total of 131.

Allansford’s Ben Boyd has helped steer Vic Country men's side to a 36-run victory over New South Wales Country at the Australian Country Cricket Championships in Shepparton. 

Boyd finished with figures of 4-11 from 10 overs to restrict NSW’s failed run chase to 168 from 45 overs as Victoria aimed to defend its 204 from 50 overs. 

Russells Creek’s Cam Williams, playing as an opener, added 23 to the total before being run out, while Woodford’s Nick Butters made eight before departing and took 1-26 with the ball.