Sport
24 February, 2026
Asim Akhtar’s historic day hands Colts a commanding 170-run lead
Star all-rounder Asim Akhtar has placed Colts Phelans in a dominating position, leading by 170 runs thanks to one of the greatest individual performances in MDCA history.
As the reigning premiers left the field after bowling the Magpies for 71 in 28.2 overs, Akhtar already created history with protruding figures many bowlers would be proud to proclaim as their career best, taking 6/15 to give him back-to-back six-wicket hauls.
Yet, Akhtar’s day had only just started. With his team looking to cement their response at 2/47, Akhtar proceeded to set Hedges Oval alight with a blistering hundred to end the day with the Colts 3/241 in prime position to take an outright victory.
It’s Akhtar’s first century in Colts colours, an exclamation point on an outstanding campaign that has rightfully placed him in the discussion for the Ken Gibbs medal.
Before the match commenced, Clunes’ Anthony Ellis became Colts Phelans 25th life member, commemorating his dedication over nearly two decades with the club that included 213 senior games.
Clunes won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to prove themselves after losing 19 wickets to Carisbrook last weekend, even with captain and leading run-scorer Mitch Coppick unavailable.
Nick Henderson quickly turned those hopeful aspirations into replayed dread, bowling Mark Allen for a duck almost immediately.
Dayne Baker didn’t show any remorse for the club’s newest life member, removing Ellis for two thanks to a sharp catch from Henderson.
In the blink of an eye, Clunes were spiralling at 2/5, hoping the new partnership of Brett Coon and Ahmed Rehman could pull them to safety.
For a while, it seemed the pairing would do just that, surviving some tricky deliveries from Henderson and Baker as both batsmen looked in good touch.
That was until Akhtar was handed the ball. Fresh off causing havoc against Beaufort with 6/38, Akhtar ended his first over by castling Coon for 10, keeping the Colts on top with Clunes now 3/23.
Brenton Jones provided some resistance alongside Rehman, adding eight before being trapped for an LBW dismissal by Jack Gallimore.
Injected with a boost of confidence after taking his first A grade wicket since the holiday break, Gallimore claimed the breakthrough the Colts were keen for, removing Rehman after a gritty 21 with the same form of dismissal as how he got Jones.
Things were dire for the Magpies at 5/47 and only got worse as Akhtar proceeded to go on a wicket spree.
Akhtar’s second victim was Dylan Davies, who was bowled for four. A third victim quickly followed, with a Fred Penhall flourish ending with his stumps poleaxed after scoring nine.
Daniel Fordham and Noah Davies fell to an identical fate to their predecessors, castled for naught and six respectively to complete Akhtar’s five-wicket haul.
Akhtar’s decimation ended by trapping Paul Coon for a duck with an LBW dismissal, ending Clunes innings on 71.
After setting season-best figures last match, Akhtar surpassed that benchmark with 6/15 and three maidens from 9.2 overs.
While Akhtar took the majority of the wickets, Gallimore (2/25), Henderson (1/14) and Baker (1/9) all bowled extremely well.
With first innings points virtually wrapped up, a reuniting opening partnership of Rhys Wagstaff and Tarkyn Balzan looked to set the Colts up for an outright victory.
However, similarly to their fightback against Carisbrook the week prior, the Magpies weren’t going down without a fight, with Brett Coon dismissing Balzan for a duck via LBW.
With the early breakthrough they desperately needed, Clunes looked to make further inroads as the returning Josh Collinson joined Wagstaff.
The partnership added 45 runs to the total before Wagstaff hit a Noah Davies delivery to Brett Coon, with his catch removing the Colts’ captain for 17.
That brought Akhtar to the crease, who hoped to prevent a similar collapse to the Colts’ recent defeat to Beaufort alongside Collinson.
The duo wasted no time amplifying the pain on the Magpies, accelerating the Colts to first innings points with some excellent strokes.
With Collinson reaching his second half-century of the A grade season and Akhtar nearing his 50, the Colts looked unstoppable.
Finally, a crack in their armour was exposed by Rehman, ending the 82-run partnership by bowling Collinson for 65.
Clunes’ glimmer of hope in wrestling some control from the Colts was extinguished by the hard-hitting duo of Akhtar and Ben Evans, who kept the reigning premiers rolling.
Every bowler the Magpies brought on received a similar treatment from Akhtar and Evans, who both neared personal milestones as the conclusion of day one neared.
At the end of the day’s play, Akhtar brought up his well-deserved century, complemented by Evans’ unbeaten 50 as the Colts ended the day on 3/241.
Akhtar joined Laanecoorie Dunolly’s Nafis Shaikh, Tom Hannett and Tom Hart as a batter to reach triple figures in A grade this season.