Sport
11 February, 2025
171-run stand puts Crows top of the nest
An unbeaten 114 from Kriss Ellis and 87 from Nicholas Cooper was the catalyst for Beaufort to take an eight-wicket victory over Clunes and book their place into the finals.
Play resumed on Saturday with the Crows sitting at 1/40, still needing 152 runs to chase down Clunes’ total of 191.
Ellis and Cooper got out of the blocks hot and never seemed to cool off as they settled into their innings.
After the Magpies reduced the duo to one boundary in the first 20 overs of the innings on day one, Ellis and Cooper cut loose, hitting 29 boundaries on day two which included four sixes.
Even as the visitors tried eight different bowlers to try and break their partnership apart, the pair surpassed the Magpies total, claiming first innings points for the Crows.
Their mammoth 171-run partnership ended right after they reached Clunes’ target, when Cooper was caught off the bowling of Brenton Jones after an entertaining 87.
Tom Alexander was the newest man at the crease, picking up where Cooper left off by smacking nine boundaries while supporting Ellis’ quest for a century.
Ellis capped off his captain fantastic performance with his first century for the Crows.
Ellis and Alexander would finish off the day’s play with an unbeaten 99-run partnership, as Beaufort ended on 2/291 with Ellis and Alexander on 114 and 54 respectively.
The Beaufort captain’s 114 is tied for the fourth highest score this season, accompanied by Kamaljot Romana’s 114 in the One Day Grand Final against Colts Phelans.
Mark Jenkin did a remarkable job in trying to stem the tide for the Magpies, finishing with figures of 1/22 from his 13 overs.
Jones was the only other wicket-taker for Clunes, ending on 1/40.
Harrison Blomeley and Mark Allen were unlucky not to have their consistent efforts rewarded with a wicket, as both allowed on average less than three runs from their overs.
The loss means Clunes will need two victories from their remaining games, including an outright win to qualify for finals.
The Crows sit six points clear in third as they will have the bye in round 12. A Carisbrook loss against the Magpies or a win in round 13 against Colts Phelans would secure them third.