Sport
7 March, 2025
Colts and Clunes join the Owls in finals
Colts Phelans and Clunes have joined minor-premiers Maryborough in booking their finals place, while a crucial game between Beaufort and Talbot will decide who claims that last spot.
Talbot 9/234 def by MKM 8/237
MKM managed to complete the largest run-chase of the season to deny Talbot qualification for finals with one round to play.
Joshua O’Connor seemed poised to limit Talbot’s total, bowling Scott Cameron, Jack Kenden and Karl Gunther to have the Yabbies at 3/47.
A Sam Haywood century changed the complexion of the contest, carving through the MKM field with 12 boundaries on his way to finishing with 102.
A late-hitting 35 from Ryan Kenden brought Talbot to their second-highest total of the season of 9/234.
O’Connor’s opening spell was enough to grab top figures of 3/35, while Sebastian Borg (2/3 off one over) and Dylan Fox (2/48 off eight overs) also grabbed multiple wickets for the visitors.
Fresh off scoring 68 against Colts Phelans, Muhammad Haseeb Khan was at it again, smashing five fours and four sixes to inject the nitro boost MKM desperately needed.
After Lachlan Roche grabbed the big wicket of Khan for 50 with the score at 2/63, Talbot seemed to be in the driver’s seat for finals.
MKM had other ideas, with eight batters reaching double figures to steer MKM past 234 with two overs to spare.
Jarrod Nedelkovski high-scored for the visitors with 54, supplemented by key contributions from Borg, Jithin Aby Thomas and Tristan Tack.
Jack Kenden and Anton Roche gave it their all to stem the tide for the Yabbies, grabbing figures of 3/37 and 3/43 respectively.
Colts Phelans 3/212 def Beaufort 39
The Colts secured their finals spot with an exclamation point, stopping Beaufort’s five game winning streak with a dominant 173-run victory.
A commanding 91-run opening partnership between Aaron Balzan and Wayne Stubbings set the stage for the Colts to reach a strong total, and even after Balzan was dismissed for 38, David Forde ensured the hosts innings didn’t miss a beat.
Stubbings caused the most headaches for the Crows, marching his way to an unbeaten 108 for the third-highest score of the season.
Nicolas Stares, Richard Stokes and Ben Woolidge all collected wickets for the Crows.
Fresh off his man-of-the-match performance against MKM last round, Daniel McGregor wasted no time slicing through Beaufort’s top order, taking the first three wickets of the innings to have the Crows in trouble at 3/12.
McGregor’s barrage inspired confidence in Hunter Kurzke and Bayden Macintyre, who grabbed two wickets each as the Colts bowled Beaufort for the second-lowest score of the season.
Thomas Grant top-scored for the Crows with 13.
Clunes 59 def by Maryborough 6/162
Maryborough have clinched the minor premiership thanks to a 103-run victory over Clunes which included a triple hat-trick from Josh Cooper.
Despite a quickfire 23 from Lachlan Bursill, the Magpies had the early advantage, putting the Owls in a spot of bother at 4/59 after two wickets from Noah Davies.
A 54-run partnership between Bradey Tranter and Paul Jardine got the Owls flying on the right track, with both batters scoring 47.
Josh Dunn was a constant threat for the Magpies, grabbing 2/22 from eight overs while the aforementioned Davies remained with two wickets with 2/33.
Maryborough captain Tranter ensured the Magpies’ road to victory hit some major potholes, collecting four wickets and causing Clunes to break down at 5/40.
The Magpies started to reignite the engine led by Davies but an out-of-this-world over from Cooper saw him take five wickets in five balls to finish with figures of 5/2 from two overs.
Despite the loss, the Magpies secured a finals place thanks to losses for Talbot and Beaufort.
Laanecoorie Dunolly 116 def by Carisbrook 5/120
Carisbrook has completed the double over Laanecoorie Dunolly this season, complementing their 90-run victory in round seven with a five-wicket win on Saturday.
Despite the efforts of Jordan Hooper, who sent both openers back to the pavilion, contributions from Joshua Lacey and Jayden McDonald set Laane to be aggressive late, sitting at 2/63 at the halfway mark.
However, three wickets from promising spinner Axel Purcell (3/18 off six overs) and Brandyn Eagle (3/1 off four overs) reduced the hosts to 116.
Needing an early breakthrough to apply pressure on Carisbrook, Laane got off to a dream start when Paul Waddington ran out league-leading run scorer Elliot Cullinan on the first ball of the innings.
The hosts capitalised on that start to have Carisbrook in trouble at 4/57 with 16 overs left but a 49-run partnership between Cooper Mark and a fill-in player turned the tables, as the pair hit Carisbrook to victory.
Nathan Dellavedova was the leading bowler for Laane, finishing on 2/24 from eight overs.
Round 14
While many teams will be playing for pride or to shake out the cobwebs before finals, there will certainly be a finals feel in Beaufort, with essentially an elimination final between the Crows and Talbot this Saturday.
All eyes will be on this clash to see who will grab the last available finals spot and who will have to wait until October to enact some revenge.
Clunes hopes to secure third place when they travel down the Ballarat-Maryborough Road to take on an MKM side fresh off one of their best team performances of the season.
Virtually secured in second, Colts Phelans will aim to prepare for their semi-final when they welcome Laanecoorie Dunolly to Hedges Oval.
Carisbrook will look to finish their season on a high note when they face off against minor premiers Maryborough at Princes Park.