Sport
8 February, 2024
Colts looking to secure finals berth with win
Colts Phelans can virtually secure a spot in the finals if they can claim the eight wickets they need to gain first innings points against Maryborough at Princes Park tomorrow afternoon. Having already secured the wicket of captain Mitch McClure...
Colts Phelans can virtually secure a spot in the finals if they can claim the eight wickets they need to gain first innings points against Maryborough at Princes Park tomorrow afternoon.
Having already secured the wicket of captain Mitch McClure, Colts can bowl with some confidence early on, but they’ll also need to be wary of a Maryborough team which still boasts some experience in the middle order.
Ben Hoban, who is one of three batsmen who have made over 100 runs for the season for the Owls, remains in and will start unbeaten on two, while Steven Shovan, who was one of Maryborough’s better performers with the bat in their big loss to Clunes, will start scoreless.
There is also the potential for the likes of Tom Hart to come into the team, who still leads all-comers for the Owls with 211 runs this season, while Marc Cassidy and Troy Bursill could also be called upon in the middle order.
A number of their young players will again be asked to perform big roles in keeping their wicket, with the likes of Jasper Trickey and Lachie Condie also looking to contribute, as they look to make up the 180 runs needed to claim their second win of the season.
Doing so against Colts’ bowling lineup appears to be a much more trickier task in the two-day format, given their excellent form over the last five weeks, and it again came to the fore over the last seven overs on the first day’s play.
Dayne Baker continued what’s been a very good season by claiming two wickets from three overs, while Nick Henderson, who is arguably one of the most in-form bowlers in the competition at the moment, continued to frustrate opposition batsmen by conceding just one run from his three overs.
Ben Stubbings will also be called upon as a potential option, and Dave Robinson will no doubt have plenty of confidence in his bag after top-scoring with 72 on the first day’s play.
Add in younger players with the capability to take a wicket such as Riley Govan and Harrison Kurzke, and Colts will be looking to fire on all cylinders.