Sport
22 February, 2024
All results at play on second day at Princes Park
If the first day’s play was any indication, then all results are on the table at Princes Park tomorrow, with a bevy of wickets falling and an exciting finish coming up. While the Owls currently hold a 125-run cushion with seven wickets in hand...
If the first day’s play was any indication, then all results are on the table at Princes Park tomorrow, with a bevy of wickets falling and an exciting finish coming up.
While the Owls currently hold a 125-run cushion with seven wickets in hand, it’s a situation which has favoured Beaufort this season more often than not, often coming from tricky positions to put up a solid score, and in their last game’s case against Carisbrook, secure first innings points after sitting 7/53 at one stage.
How the last ball dismissal of Lachlan Oddie on day one shapes Beaufort will be an interesting watch, but it’s clear that there has been a next-man-up mentality.
There are still some quality batsmen in the shed, with Jack Smith coming off a sensational day in which he scored 83 runs across both of Beaufort’s innings against Carisbrook, taking him to 238 runs for the season, while Kriss Ellis is also still yet to bat, having added 208 for the season.
Joe Kingsbury is another waiting in the wings, and one that can provide some good middle-order hitting, having scored 134 runs for the season.
Across the sheds, Maryborough are desperate for a win to bring a positive note to what has very much been a learning year for many of their young players, with experienced heads guiding them.
Martin Dell is one of them, and was leading the way late on day one, taking 2/6 off five overs.
His leadership will be vital, as will the likes of Steven Shovan and Ben Hoban, who will no doubt be asked to bowl critical overs.
Youngsters such as Lachie Condie and Jasper Trickey will also be called upon to add to their wicket-taking tallies, having combined for 20 wickets this season, and are ranked first and second at the club.
The key to the Owls’ much-needed success will be whether or not they can bowl an opposition team out for the first time this season.
It’s been a tricky task for the Owls, but one they have steadily been closer to achieving in the two-day game.
In round 11, they took eight wickets against Laanecoorie Dunolly, followed by nine against Clunes and Colts Phelans respectively before late declarations thwarted them.
However, with seven wickets still to get, they may not be presented with a better chance to get the feat done than Saturday, especially given the game is still up for grabs.