Sport
23 February, 2023
Chase is on for Clunes with finals at stake
Clunes’ finals chances could hinge upon whether they can chase down Colts Phelans’ 234 tomorrow, while Colts will be simply looking to match Maryborough’s result to lock in a home final. It was an interesting day one to say the least, with...
Clunes’ finals chances could hinge upon whether they can chase down Colts Phelans’ 234 tomorrow, while Colts will be simply looking to match Maryborough’s result to lock in a home final.
It was an interesting day one to say the least, with both teams enjoying solid passages of play throughout.
The Magpies will be happy that they were able to take all 10 wickets for the first time this season, and would have been thrilled with their start, which saw them leave Colts 2/1 in the early stages.
However, as has been the issue throughout the season, one batsman getting significant runs has been their downfall.
Of the five centuries hit in A grade this season, four have come against Clunes. Rhys Wagstaff added his name to the list last Saturday, scoring 103, joining Mitch McClure and Samit Gohil (twice) as centurions against the Magpies this season.
A 90-run third-wicket stand between Wagstaff and Rhys Egan was the highlights of Colts’ day, taking them from 2/1 to 2/91 in the process and wresting back control of the game.
Clunes will have been thrilled by the contributions of Ashley Gunn and Jaxon Smyth in the field, with both bowlers taking three wickets each. Gunn was particularly prominent in the early overs, finishing with 3/59 off 20 overs, while Smyth finished with 3/44 off 21 overs.
235 will be an interesting run chase, but if recent weeks are able to go by, the Magpies will at least be competitive.
A 52-run final wicket stand two weeks ago saw the Magpies muster up 172 runs in 39.5 overs against Laanecoorie Dunolly, while prior to that, the Magpies managed 193 against Maryborough.
Central to their hopes of pulling off victory will rely on the opening stand of Anthony Ellis and Mitchell Coppick, which yielded 54 runs against the Owls.
At the other end, Colts will be calling upon the likes of Ben Stubbings and Nicholas Henderson to quell the Magpies’ hopes, particularly given how tough both are in terms of getting off the mark, with both bowlers enjoying an economy rate of under three runs an over.