Sport
12 December, 2025
Carisbrook eyes top four versus Owls
After spending nearly a month on the sidelines due to Energy Breakthrough and back-to-back washouts, Maryborough will need to quickly shake off any potential rust against a Carisbrook team full of confidence.
The Owls began their A grade resurgence with an eight-wicket win over Carisbrook thanks to a three-wicket haul from Elliot Ashburn and an unbeaten 78 from Oliver Bennett.
However, Carisbrook has proved to be a much bigger test since their round one defeat, especially on their home turf at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve.
With a thrilling four-run win over Clunes and two competitive defeats to ladder-leaders Colts Phelans and Laanecoorie Dunolly at home, Carisbrook scored its biggest scalp of the season on Saturday by defeating Beaufort.
Their climactic eight-run victory places last season’s runners-up on the precipice of the top four following back-to-back wins, causing serious intrigue surrounding the finals places.
Hot prospect Elliot Cullinan has been vital to Carisbrook’s resurgence of form, arguably the most dangerous batsman in the MDCA over the past month.
The highly entertaining opener has averaged 73.6 in his last three knocks, smashing 11 fours and a six on his way to a season high of 83 last weekend.
While Cullinan has starred with the bat, Carisbrook’s bowling department has shown significant strides in the last fortnight.
After only taking five wickets during rounds six and seven, Carisbrook generated 18 breakthroughs in their last two games, led by a 4/13 from Brayden Wright versus Clunes and Dean Nalder’s 4/15 that spun his team past Beaufort.
The duo, alongside youngsters Atticus Cullinan and Axel Purcell and the dependable Jordan Hooper, will look to continue their recent form against a Maryborough lineup chomping at the bit to return to the crease.
The Owls have often started innings superbly thanks to the expertise of openers Bennett and Ben Hoban, who generated a 128-run partnership in Maryborough’s opening round win over Carisbrook.
With Maryborough still fighting to maintain third place on the ladder and apply pressure on the top two, players like Martin Dell, Alex Burrow, Mitch McClure and Jason Hunt will be keen to provide consistent middle-order runs throughout the second half of the season.