Sport
28 February, 2025
Colts, Crows battle in tune up for finals
With Beaufort and Colts Phelans already qualified for finals, their last regular season game will be a vital tune-up for two teams looking to avenge semi-final heartbreak in 2023/24.
With Beaufort and Colts Phelans already qualified for finals, their last regular season game will be a vital tune-up for two teams looking to avenge semi-final heartbreak in 2023/24.
With the Crows and Carisbrook tied on points heading into the final round where Carisbrook has the bye, only a massive victory from the Colts would prevent these two teams from meeting in the semi-final.
A semi-final matchup between the Colts and the Crows is tantalising on paper, as their contests this season have produced some of the best A Grade matches.
In their first encounter in round five, the Colts chased down 171 with six balls to spare, snatching a four-wicket victory.
An unbeaten 60 from reigning Ken Gibbs medallist Lachlan Oddie set the table for Beaufort before a strong opening innings by Rhys Egan and some late hitting from Regan Goundry got the Colts over the line.
The Colts would hold on in another thriller against the Crows in round eight, this time by only two wickets to book themselves a place in the One Day Final.
A 75-run opening partnership from Joshua Lofts and Tom Alexander provided the building blocks for Beaufort to make 169, but the Colts managed to chip away to surpass the target with eight balls to spare.
Refreshed from the bye last round, the Crows will be motivated to finally grab a victory over the Colts this season, with some players using the two weeks off to get some extra reps in A Reserve.
Chief among them have been Alexander and Nicholas Cooper, who have combined to score 235 runs across the last two A reserve matches.
The Colts will be looking to regain momentum heading into finals after stumbling against Laanecoorie Dunolly, especially in a bowling department that only took three wickets last Saturday.
They have unquestionably shown they have the weapons to be more potent in talking wickets, with Max Jackson (15), Ben Evans (12), Nick Henderson (12) and Dayne Baker (10) reaching double figures in wickets taken this season.
They are not the only team in this contest who boasts considerable firepower in their bowling ranks, as Beaufort’s quartet of Alexander (18), Oddie (13), Jayden Scotland (12) and Joel Pymer (12) have taken 55 wickets between them this season.
The Crows and the Colts also host similar levels of quality batting depth at their disposal, with both teams possessing three batters who have scored at least 200 runs.
The English trio of Jackson (378 runs), Goundry (233) and Charlie Scorer (218) have been key for the Colts with the bat this season, while Kriss Ellis leads the way for Beaufort (268) after his 114 in his last innings against Clunes, followed by Oddie (210) and Alexander (200).