Sport
31 January, 2025
Clunes to face off against Beaufort at home
With both teams hoping the week break can shake off their round nine loss, Clunes will make the trip to Goldfields Reserve to take on Beaufort.
While the visitors were on the back foot throughout their last match against Colts Phelans, the Magpies should be proud of their effort to reduce the damage to a first innings loss.
Mark Allen was integral to that effort, with his unbeaten 61 in the second innings preventing Colts from stampeding away.
He wasn’t the only Magpie to showcase some promise with the bat throughout the contest.
Anthony Ellis remains the club’s top run scorer this season after making 30 in the second innings, Dylan Davies had a fine knock in the first innings, finishing 30 not out, and Fred Penhall made an important 45 runs across the two innings.
For Beaufort, they will be looking to dust themselves off after missing out in a thriller against Carisbrook by six runs.
That result leaves them holding onto third by a thread after losing their last three games, including defeats to ladder-leaders Laanecoorie Dunolly and Colts.
Despite their current run of form, the Crows will be confident they can capture their first win since round six, which came at the hands of Clunes by seven wickets.
Lachlan Oddie showcased his class in that one-day fixture, smashing the Magpie’s attack around for 12 fours and a six on his way to an unbeaten 83 as the Crows reached the target of 181 with 35 balls to spare.
In order for the Magpies to reverse that round six result and record their first win of the season, they will need to bowl consistently to stifle the dangerous Beaufort batting lineup.
Brett Coon has showcased his development as a young cricketer by leading the way for the Magpies in that department, equalling his wicket total from last season (nine wickets) with at least three games left to play.
He will look to be supported by Brad Stevenson, who alongside Coon took multiple wickets against Colts, and Davies who followed his performance with the bat by suffocating the run rate, bowling four maidens from his seven overs.
The Magpies will also have to contend with the Crows bowling lineup, boasting threatening talent spearheaded by Tom Alexander.
His league-leading 18 wickets include taking 3/25 from eight overs the last time these teams met in round six and claiming his best figures of the season in round two against Carisbrook, finishing with 4/32.
Jayden Scotland has also been dangerous for the Crows this season with 10 wickets while Joel Pymer has been superb when he’s played, claiming nine wickets from three matches.
With Clunes 18 points away from Carisbrook in fourth, they need to win their last three games of the season to have any chance of finals.
Beaufort will hope to regain their six-point gap from Carisbrook by the end of round 11, with Carisbrook travelling to Laanecoorie Dunolly.