Sport
16 December, 2025
Colts eye Grand Final after besting Bulls
Colts Phelans’ bowling brigade sharpened its tools ahead of this weekend’s one-day Grand Final, bowling Beaufort for 94 on their way to a five-wicket victory.
After the quartet of Nick Henderson, Jack Gallimore, Asim Akhtar and Jack Mensforth held the Bulls to 38 runs in the first 20 overs, star spinner Ben Evans cashed in with figures of 4/30.
Despite Beaufort being bowled for less than three figures, inspired spells from the returning Benjamin Grant and captain Brandon Walsh caused concern for their opponents, with the Colts at 5/61 in the 16th over.
The reliable Josh Collinson once again provided sturdy stability to the Colts’ run chase, scoring an unbeaten 35 and assisted by a late cameo from Evans.
After winning the toss at Goldfields Recreation Reserve, Beaufort elected to bat on their home deck, looking for openers Nick Stabbins and Joshua Lofts to get them off to a noteworthy start.
Henderson and Gallimore ensured the Colts piled immediate pressure on Stabbins and Lofts, allowing just eight scoring shots during the opening 10 overs.
Credit to Stabbins and Lofts, they didn’t allow the run rate squeeze to conjure an early breakthrough, patiently biding their time for run-scoring chances, even when Akhtar and Mensforth were brought into the Colts’ attack.
After 16 overs of Beaufort resistance, the Colts finally got their wicket when Mensforth bowled Stabbins for eight after he faced 48 balls, giving Mensforth his first wicket in a Colts jersey and placing the Bulls at 1/28.
The Colts were thirsty for another breakthrough before the drinks break, and with his first over of the innings, Evans delivered the wicket of Lofts, bowling the opener for 19.
Beaufort resumed their innings after the short interval at 2/38, needing the talented pairing of Lachlan Oddie and Theo Trevelyan-Clark to generate a momentum-shifting partnership.
However, Mensforth ensured Oddie’s innings was short-lived, dismissing the star allrounder for five with the help of a catch from wicketkeeper Luke Tatchell.
Trevelyan-Clark looked to be in good touch for the Bulls, but he joined Oddie in the pavilion three overs later, thanks to a nifty caught and bowled from Evans.
The new partnership of Walsh and Lyle Aichroth attempted to attack the Colts with some aggressive batting, but that quickly came back to bite them as Aichroth was run out for four trying to stretch a two into a three.
The wickets began to tumble for the Bulls after Aichroth’s run out, starting with Gallimore bowling Charlie Dyer for five in the 33rd over.
Evans registered a double breakthrough in the following over, first bowling Malcolm Woolley for one before sending Grant packing for a duck, thanks to a catch from Rhys Egan.
Walsh was run out for nine two overs later, then Akhtar ended Beaufort’s innings by bowling Nicolas Stares for naught with the first ball of the 37th over, ending the Bulls’ innings all out on 94.
It was a deserving result for a dominant Colts performance with the ball and in the field.
While Evans led the way with 4/30 from his allotted eight overs, Mensforth (2/16 and three maidens), Akhtar (1/10 off 5.1 overs) and Gallimore (1/17 from eight overs) also impressed.
Openers Rhys Wagstaff and Tarkyn Balzan looked to make quick work of the Colts’ target of 95, scoring 30 runs off the first five overs with the assistance of a case of the bowling yips from Trevelyan-Clark.
After taking nine wickets in his last three outings in A reserve, Grant quickly implemented his recent form back into A grade, removing the talented Balzan for 10 with a catch from Dyer.
Grant was at it again in his next over, trapping Wagstaff in front for an LBW dismissal after scoring 10 to give Beaufort a sign of hope.
Despite suddenly being 2/38, the Colts could afford to remain confident with their leading run-scorers, Collinson and Akhtar, in the middle.
That confidence took a noticeable hit when, with his third ball of a new spell, Walsh got Akhtar to chip a ball straight to Stares after scoring one.
The new experienced partnership of Egan and Collinson seemed poised to get the Colts back on track, but Beaufort’s captain wasn’t done causing havoc.
After removing Egan for eight with a catch from Aichroth, Walsh got rid of Mensforth for a duck, giving him his league-leading 20th wicket of the season and placing the Colts on a shrinking tightrope at 5/61.
With Walsh threatening to spin his side to an improbable fightback, Evans joined Collinson at the crease and the pair began to methodically work the Colts to their target, pouncing on hittable deliveries with boundaries.
Resuming their innings at 5/88 after the drinks break, the duo patiently navigated the efforts of Grant and Walsh to ensure their team surpassed 94 with 17 overs to spare.
Collinson followed his vital 48 not out the week prior versus Clunes with an unbeaten 35, while Evans finished not out on 18 from just 28 balls.
Walsh and Grant bowled well to give the Bulls the chance of an improbable comeback, taking figures of 3/26 and 2/19 respectively.