Sport
15 February, 2024
Colts and Clunes to battle for finals
In the context of finals, this looms as an important match up. It seems all-but certain when one looks at the overall ladder that it will be these two teams clashing against one another, but the big question is who secures the home bragging rights...
In the context of finals, this looms as an important match up.
It seems all-but certain when one looks at the overall ladder that it will be these two teams clashing against one another, but the big question is who secures the home bragging rights.
This clash at Bull Millgate Oval will be the first between the two teams at the ground this year, with the only other occasion they’ve met an early-season T20 at Hedges Oval, which went in favour of Colts.
Colts have stormed into the finals with three impressive victories, with many of their stars firing on all cylinders.
While Dave Robinson has slowed down a little bit with his bowling output, he was back to his best with the bat two weeks ago when he top-scored with 72.
In a sense though, Robinson has been able to play with a bit of freedom given the bowling form of both Nick Henderson and Dayne Baker, both of whom are storming up the charts.
Both Henderson and Baker sit equal-third on the wicket-taking list with 19 each, with the former in great form in the two-day competition, while Baker’s five-wicket haul against Maryborough over the last two weeks perhaps securing him another good lot of votes for the Ken Gibbs Medal, of which he may be an outside contender.
However, Clunes, despite losing to Laanecoorie Dunolly by 85 runs last week, currently sit second for a reason, and it’s because they have also been performing well with both bat and ball.
Despite last week’s slump, the likes of Jude McGuire and Mitch Coppick will back themselves in to launch into another big score, while Mark Allen performed admirably with both bat and ball last week.
Getting wickets against a quality team like Laanecoorie Dunolly can be a tricky task, but the Magpies did well to restrict Laane to 183 two weeks ago, after scoring 302 and 238 in their first two games.
Colts, on the other hand, also made 183 against Maryborough, but will be hoping they won’t let Clunes get off the chain at stages much like the youthful Owls did a week ago, when they recovered from 4/20 to get within 23 runs.