Sport
7 March, 2025
244 is the target for Beaufort to defeat Colts
The equation has been set for Beaufort. Successfully chase down 244 and they will finish the regular season on a high in third and set a date to meet Colts Phelans in the semi-final.
A captain’s knock of 71 from Rhys Egan supplemented by Harrison Kurzke, Charlie Scorer and Ben Evans who all scored above 30 gave Colts their second-highest score of the season.
With the Colts secured in second, the matchup is a great way for the visitors to test themselves ahead of the challenging finals series.
Fresh off their highest total of the season in their last matchup against Clunes, Beaufort will have confidence they can defeat the Colts at the third time of asking this season.
While Kriss Ellis stole the show with an unbeaten 114 with 16 fours and a six against the Magpies, Nicholas Cooper and Tom Alexander showcased some superb touch, combining for 22 boundaries as the former scored 87 and the latter finished on 54 not out.
That doesn’t even mention some of the other options Beaufort could potentially rely on if needed.
Chief among them is reigning Ken Gibbs medallist Lachlan Oddie, who has had some marvelous knocks this season including scoring 83 against Clunes in round six and 60 versus the Colts in round five.
Joe Kingsbury has also provided some handy runs, scoring 27 and 35 in his last two outings for the Crows.
Despite the Crows’ depth in their batting lineup, the task will certainly not be easy, as they take on the sinister six of Dayne Baker, Evans, Regan Goundry, Nick Henderson, Max Jackson and Scorer.
The sextet has taken all of the Colts’ wickets this season, with each member taking at least eight wickets.
Leading the way has been Jackson, who has been one of the best players in the competition.
His 15 wickets this season place him fourth in the wicket-taking charts and he has picked up his form with the ball right when the Colts have needed him to, grabbing nine wickets over the past three matches.
The top two wicket-takers for the Colts last season Baker and Henderson have continued their impact with the ball, taking double- digit wickets this season.
The Crows will also be particularly wary of Goundry, who played a key role in the Colts’ win over Beaufort in round five, finishing with figures of 4/25.