Sport
13 December, 2024
Carisbrook and Colts look for positive red-ball start
Second-placed Colts Phelans and fourth-placed Carisbrook meet at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve.
For Colts, a win here will lock in their spot for finals, while Carisbrook will look to make hay while Clunes has the bye in what looks to be the battle for the final spot in the top four.
Colts hold the advantage with one win, that coming in the opening round of the season as they scored an 86-run triumph at Hedges Oval, but they will need to quickly shake off the disappointment of losing the one-day grand final last Sunday and reset.
However, they can take some confidence out of knowing they were not awfully far away from delivering a victory, falling 45 runs short, and they will be up and about after putting 194 on Laane.
Max Jackson was Colts’ unequivocal best player on Sunday, scoring 68 runs and taking two wickets, and he is now one of four Colts players who have scored more than 100 runs this season.
Regan Goundry currently leads the way with 145 runs for the season, while Rhys Egan is close behind with 143.
Charlie Scorer will be a key for Colts, having scored 52 in their last meeting with Carisbrook, and he has scored 103 runs for the season.
If Carisbrook can get their top order firing, this could be an intriguing battle.
Dean Nalder has taken a liking to Colts in 2024, scoring a century last season in what was a salvage mission, and was one of the only players to score well in their loss to Colts in round one, finishing unbeaten on 63. He also leads the Brookers for runs this season, with 147.
Liam Hurse has been a much-needed addition to the stability of the top order, scoring 104 runs in three knocks, while Martin Mark and William Coutts will look to get some good runs as well.
Both teams will also need their stars to get on top with the ball.
Goundry leads the way for Colts Phelans, having taken eight wickets at an average of 15.3 this season, while Jackson (six wickets, 20.3), Dayne Baker (six, 22.7), Ben Evans (six, 23.5) and Scorer (six, 25.5) has given Colts much-needed additional options which could be the ticket to them continuing to establish themselves as Laanecoorie Dunolly’s main challengers.
For Carisbrook, the red ball presents an opportunity for their bowlers to perhaps lower the run rate, which they were unable to do with the white ball.
Nalder has been arguably their most consistent bowler this season with six wickets at 24.2, with he and Hurse their only bowlers with an average under 30 — Hurse has taken five wickets at 24.8.
Atticus Cullinan (five wickets at 44) and Cole Harris (four wickets at 43.5) will also look to get themselves some key early wickets to help Carisbrook get into the game and secure a much-needed win.
It is a crucial period for the club, who only has two more home games remaining, with this one followed by a home game against Beaufort, before two road trips which will determine their fate as to whether they are able to make a return to the A grade finals or not.