Sport
18 November, 2025
Colts narrowly escape Maryborough’s clutches
Colts Phelans are once again on the verge of qualifying for back-to-back one-day Grand Finals after just edging out local rivals Maryborough by two wickets.
Both teams made the most of an eventful bowling wicket at Ron Sinclair Oval, but a clutch innings from Colts stalwart Luke Tatchell ensured key contributions from Asim Akhtar and Abdaar Ishaq didn’t go to waste.
With aspirations of overtaking the Colts into the top two, the Owls were keen to bring the fight to their neighbours after opening the match with the bat.
Despite some handy totals at the top of the order from Oliver Bennett and Troy Bursill, who scored 30 and 15 respectively, runs were hard to come by off the wicket, with the Colts’ lethal bowling attack doing Maryborough no favours.
After taking three crucial wickets in the Colts’ last two matches, Akhtar stunted Maryborough’s innings with back-to-back wickets, including a sharp caught and bowled to remove Bursill.
Some late scoring from youngster Oliver Cassidy, who finished with 17, brought Maryborough to a defendable total of 120, but the Colts had placed themselves in the driver’s seat with another impressive bowling performance.
Alongside Akhtar, Jack Gallimore and Ben Evans were brilliant with the ball for the Colts, with Gallimore leading with figures of 2/18, closely followed by Akhtar with 2/20 and Evans who picked up 2/25.
After blasting 45 the week prior in an innings that included six fours and a six, Rhys Egan hoped to get the Colts’ run chase firing immediately alongside fellow opener and captain Rhys Wagstaff.
However, the Owls were keeping themselves in the match with the ball, with Jason Hunt in particular laying waste to the Colts’ batting order.
Even with Ishaq showcasing his improved acclimatisation to Australian conditions by making 27, and Akhtar adding 25, the match went down to the wire thanks to Maryborough’s rising-star duo of Cassidy and Jasper Trickey routinely breaking partnerships.
As the pressure mounted on the Colts, Tatchell remained calm and collected, steering his team home with an unbeaten 18.
Hunt was the pick of the bowlers for Maryborough, ending the match with 4/26, while Cassidy and Trickey picked up two wickets each.
