Rd 5 West Warriors V Simpson
by Liam McCullagh
BELTER: Another ripper pitch from Dean Hutch.
The Panthers were back at home, gracing the glorious, hallowed Warrion turf this weekend as they took on the Simpson Tigers.
Still feeling the effects of a lingering case of the ‘man flu’ from last weekend, I ruled myself unavailable after taking Wednesday and Thursday off work. I still coached the Under 11s on Saturday morning in indoor cricket and then made my way out to Warrion to watch.
It was an overcast day with the sun peeking through at stages, but it was muggy. The forecast predicted rain later in the afternoon, post-match.
Craig Kerr opened the batting alongside Shane Kent, after Damon Weteman’s unavailability, and the pair got us off to a flier. They both smacked the ball to all parts early before the first wicket fell in the tenth over, leaving the score at 1-67. Shane was bowled by left-arm opener Kye Baines trying to slog over midwicket for 26 from 26 balls. Craig hit three fours and one six on his way to 36 before being dismissed in the next over by Kye’s dad—the right-arm bowler Shaun Baines.
Shaun is one of the more recognisable cricketers in the district. He has a long ponytail, a face tattoo, and is a handy cricketer. He spent the last few seasons playing at Forrest Cricket Club but made the move to Simpson this year. He picked up the next wicket — Xav Prime — caught and bowled trying to pull. The ball hit the toe of his bat and went straight back to the bowler.
Max Hutch looked the most solid he has all season, playing his trademark shots through cover-point. Any width, he just jumps on it.
At drinks, West Warrion sat at 3-119—a perfect platform for the final 20 overs.
DRINKS: Max Hutch and Charlie Morrissy heading back out after drinks.
Charlie Morrissy snicked off to Shaun for 13 from 19, and Kenny McDonald picked out a fielder for his 14 from 13 balls. Baines finished with 4-27 from his eight overs. Shae De Francesco — the captain of Simpson’s women’s side — came on to bowl, and she bowled very tidily.
Paul Liistro’s eyes lit up when he saw a wide full toss that he got under. He got under it so much that it went straight up and was safely caught at gully. It led to a little dummy-spit, with the bat thrown, and he needed a breather behind the clubrooms. Later, when his son Oscar did the same thing, Kenny McDonald pointed out to Liistro, “I saw you do the same thing 15 minutes ago.”
Kenny McDonald no doubt hanging crap on me not toughing it out and playing.
Deakin Carmichael, shifted down the order, batted perfectly to the match situation, scoring 18 from 25 balls, as did James McNabb. Hutch was finally dismissed for 48 from 54 balls in a knock that contained four fours.
Vice-captain James McNabb contributed 17* from 29, and Ethan Coverdale made 13 from 19 before being stumped on a wide. That left tailender Darcy Dwyer to face the final ball of the innings. Darcy smacked it for four and celebrated running off the ground, saying to the other batsman, “Boys, batting is easy, see.”
FOUR: Darcy Dwyer celebrating his incredible knock.
The afternoon tea was one of our finest — no quiche, but sandwiches, pies, watermelon (an absolute must on a hot day), and plenty of cake varieties. Craig had to leave early for a wedding, leaving us with 11.
Arvo tea spread
Ethan Coverdale and Xavier Prime opened the bowling, offering a right-arm/left-arm combination, and both bowled well. Primey struck first, bowling Joe Cain with the score at 1-20. Simpson opener Bailey Vines and No. 3 Shaun Baines combined for 34 runs before Darcy Dwyer bowled Baines.
Darcy is in a rich vein of form, picking up another three-wicket haul. His season tally is already at 12 at an average of 8.58. Primey (8 @ 7) and Ethan (8 @ 17.5) sit equal second. Darcy’s match figures were 3-24 from six overs, also picking up the wickets of David Wheel — bowled — and Connor Poole (15 from 15), bowled again. A run-out saw Brady Fratantaro out for a duck. A flurry of three wickets left Simpson 5-66 at drinks.
At the break, wicketkeeper Shane Kent asked Liistro if he could leave early to go home and milk. Liistro didn’t want to be left one short in the field, so he asked me — luckily, I still had my whites in the car (in my kit bag, unwashed from last weekend).
So, I went out there and fielded for the last 13 overs.
Bailey Vines batted solidly for 26 from 47. Jay Bowman came to the crease — and in our fixtures against Simpson last year, he helped chase down 100-odd for no loss and rescued them from 5-26 to chase 80-odd. Although the total was still more than 100 runs away, watching on, I thought…
Ethan Coverdale came back on and bowled a bumper that looked innocuous—until Bowman started walking, and we realised he had stepped back onto his stumps. He was out hit wicket for 17.
Max Hutch picked up the gloves like his old man, Dean, did back in the day and looked unbelievable. I fielded at first slip next to him. He is one of those blokes who is a natural at everything — batting, bowling, fielding, wicketkeeping, golf—and he is a gun footballer for Irrewarra-Beeac.
The remaining wickets were picked up by Liistro, Oaklee Balboni and Coverdale. Simpson were all out for 140, giving West Warrion an 86-run win and a return to top spot.
Division Three also recorded a gutsy win against Lorne, chasing 158 with one wicket in hand — a side they hadn’t beaten in three years since Lorne re-entered the competition. It was a big win because Lorne had made the last two grand finals and have one of the best Division Three players in Edde Erftemeyer.
Club talisman and larrikin Charlie Hynes came out to Warrion to give us a Division Three recap. He was number 11, batting at the end, and bowled five maidens during the match with figures of 1-7 from 7. He is a very good storyteller and encapsulated the dramatic win perfectly.
Chynny recapping the Division 3 Match, Oaklee Balboni (left) clearly impressed.
Attention now turns to Division 1 T20s on Wednesday night against Colac at the Lake Oval. It will be a new and exciting challenge for the club and gives us a glimpse into what our Division 1 ambition for 2026–27 may look like. In Division 2, next Saturday’s match sees us face Alvie — the team closest to us geographically.
The pitch covers going back on the ground after the match, Dean Hutch, his son Max, and Ethan Coverdale.
Read more from Liam McCullagh here.
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Well done Liam keep the reports coming !