Sport
9 October, 2025
Strong season opener from Cats
MORTLAKE has opened the season with a thumping eight wicket win over Noorat Terang in the round one Warrnambool Moyne District Cricket Association division one premier competition.
Noorat Terang won the toss and elected to bat first at the Mortlake College Oval, with Mortlake opening bowlers Craig Britten and Kalhan Sineth doing the early damage in reducing the visitors to 5/39.
On debut for Mortlake, new coach and co-captain Craig Britten took two of the early wickets, with Kalhan Sineth also getting the new ball and taking two wickets.
But it was Sineth’s economy that was most pleasing for the Cats’ mentor.
“We opened with Kalhan for his dot ball pressure, not really to take wickets,” Britten said.
“He restricted them well and managed a couple of early wickets which was great.”
Sineth took 2/9 in his initial seven over spell, finishing the day with 2/12 from nine overs.
Britten managed 3/39 from his nine overs.
Noorat Terang’s lower order rallied, with partnerships of 22 for the sixth wicket, 39 for the eighth wicket and 27 for the ninth wicket to turn the score into a respectable 9/130.
Veterans Todd Lamont (2/19) and Clinton Baker (1/17) proved extremely economical, bowling in tandem in their respective nine over spells, as did young bowler Sam Wareham, who took 1/18 from six overs.
Mortlake made light work of the run chase with an aggressive outlook.
Todd Lamont was elevated to open and took full advantage, smacking 32 from 19 balls including four sixes.
“Will Kain is going to open for us, but in his absence Todd stepped up and he really set the tone for an aggressive start, he really led from the front,” Britten said.
Opener Saman Gonawala played a strong hand, finishing 44 not out from 50 balls with two fours and a six, while Charlie Mahncke closed the innings out quickly with an unbeaten 38 from 34 balls featuring five sixes.
“Sam is the anchor we work around, but he got going too and played some nice shots.
“Charlie is going to be so good for us when he’s in our team, some of his sixes were really big hits.”
Apart from Britten, Adam Attwood, who crossed over from Horsham club Homers, and junior player Max Slater also made their first 11 debuts for Mortlake.
“Adam was good with the keeping gloves and batted well for his 13.
“Max fielded really well and is fantastic to have around the group.”
Britten was thrilled with the all round effort on the day.
“All facets of our game were really good, we were very clinical,” he said.
This week Mortlake will host Russells Creek, again at Mortlake College, who also are coming off a strong round one win.
“We will have to step up again this week and show our best form if we are to beat Russells Creek.”
Mortlake’s division one championship team will play its first game of the season this Saturday, heading to Woolsthorpe to play Spring Creek.
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