HAMILTON and District Cricket Association Hurricanes Under-17 and Under-15 teams have blown through both Warrnambool and Horsham this past week at the annual Country Week carnivals staged in each town.

Both teams enjoyed success at their respective competitions with several players performing very well over the course of the week.

Round one saw the Hurricanes’ Under-17 team sent in on a very green wicket, but Portland failed to deliver the line and length needed to trouble the batting line-up as Hurricanes skipper, Henry Bensch posted his career best score of 116 from the number four position.

Along with George Huf (76) he helped add 189 for the third wicket as the Hurricanes rattled up 5-296 when the innings was brought to a halt after only 49 overs.

In reply, Portland was bundled out for only 116 as Bensch (4-16) took the bowling honours with Eli Hunter (2-20) and Hammish Shipcott (2-21) giving great support to their skipper.

Warrnambool Blue was next on Tuesday and Bensch batted first after winning the coin toss, only to see the openers back in the pavilion with only 19 on the board.

It fell to Edward McShane (51) and Rylan Pech (22-not-out) to rescue the innings, as the Hurricanes finished with 156 at the end of their innings.

Warrnambool Blue was made to battle every inch of the way after being reduced to 3-10 and then 8-148 in reply, as Bensch (5-31) led from the front.

The ninth wicket fell with the scores level and the Hurricanes did all within their power to grab a tie, but it wasn’t to be as the opposition finished on 173 all out.

Day three saw the competition move to T20s with each team playing two games for the day.

The first match saw the Hurricanes battle Wimmera Mallee in a very close match that saw them take the points by only eight runs, while the second match for the day was against Horsham and Bensch was the pick of the bowlers with 4-18 as the Hurricanes restricted Horsham to 8-107 from the allotted overs.

From 1-53, the Hurricanes lost 9-37 to help Horsham claim a huge upset win.

Drawn against undefeated Colac in the final preliminary round, the Hurricanes lost the toss and were asked to field first, but the bowlers responded to have their opponents reeling at 6-38 before a lower order rally saw Colac claw its way to 115 all out.

Opening batsmen, Jack Austin (59) and George Huf (27), gave the Hurricanes the perfect foundation by adding 65 for the first wicket in only 14 overs before Huf was dismissed, although the Hurricanes eventually passed the target with seven wickets in hand.

Having lost two games meant the Hurricanes couldn’t reach the final despite the thrashing of Colac and they finished in third place.

Under-15

TRADITION dictates that the first day of Under-15 Country Week is held in Hamilton, as the Hurricanes host Portland in the first round each year.

Levi Templeton (87) and Isaac Shaw (40) gave the side a wonderful foundation of 81 for the first wicket, as the Hurricanes finished on 8-218 from the allotted overs.

It was case of deja vu as the visitors’ opening batsmen emulated their hosts by posting 98 for the first wicket.

Once that first wicket finally fell, the rest followed suit as Portland lost 8-90 to finish with 8-188 in reply, as Shaw (3-33) and Hayden Phillips (2-25) combined to stem the run rate.

Hamilton learnt a valuable lesson of day two of the carnival, that a team from Warrnambool can never be written off no matter the state of the match.

Having batted first and posted 8-126 thanks to Jack Rhook and Brodie Phillips posting 20 each, the Hurricanes responded with ball in hand with the scoreboard showing 6-72 in reply and seemingly on the way to another victory before Ted Hunter and Ryan combined for a 54-run seventh-wicket partnership that handed Warrnambool the victory.

Brilliant bowling saw the Hurricanes sweep Wimmera Mallee aside for only 57, as Shaw (2-3) and Harry Austin (2-7) led the charge for the Hurricanes.

In reply, Jack Rhook (44-not-out) at number 10 blasted his team to victory.

Warrnambool Gold awaited the Hurricanes in the semi-final, and they had to bowl first after losing the toss, with Warrnambool Gold piling on 4-195 from its allotted overs.

Hamish Myers (2-38) was the pick of the attack but Phillips, Harry Austin, Shaw and the rest of the bowling line-up played their roles well.

The opening batsmen were dismissed cheaply in the run chase but Austin added 51 from number three to defy Warrnambool Gold.

Only Angus Heazlewood (23) gave the skipper any support as the Hurricanes fell short by runs as they finished on 7-149.