Sport
4 March, 2025
Colts set Crows 244 in potential finals preview
Colts Phelans have laid down a 244-run gauntlet for Beaufort to chase down in order for the Crows to register their first win against the Colts this season.
Beaufort won the toss and sent their opponents into bat first, hoping to make early inroads into the Colts’ lineup.
Joel Pymer made those dreams a reality, removing the in-form Rhys Wagstaff for one after he was caught by Lachlan Oddie.
That brought Charlie Scorer into the game much sooner than expected, who joined promoted opener Harrison Kurzke.
Despite being under unique circumstances, the duo adapted quickly, allowing the Colts to recover from the opening breakthrough with a 60-run partnership.
Oddie was the man who would bring an end to the partnership, dismissing Kurzke for a sturdy 35 after he was caught by Nicholas Cooper.
That brought the dangerous Max Jackson to the middle, motivated to give the Colts control over the contest alongside Scorer.
Jayden Scotland had other ideas, snaring the big fish of Jackson when he was caught by Pymer for three to put the Colts at 3/77.
Regan Goundry looked poised to back up his fellow Englishman, but he too was soon gone at the hands of Oddie, caught by Kriss Ellis for 10.
Oddie continued to make a difference for the Crows, ending the formidable innings of Scorer for 41 when he too was caught, this time by Cooper.
As the Colts suddenly found themselves at 5/103, the Crows were hungry to swoop on their stumbled prey.
Rhys Egan and Ben Evans were the men to get the Colts back on their feet and gain control of the contest, navigating the Crows advances with cleaver batting and timely boundaries.
Their game-altering 78-run partnership ended when Evans was caught by Charlie Dyer for 34 off the bowling of Cooper.
Despite the breakthrough, Egan continued to impose his mark on the contest with the new man in Luke Tatchell, hitting seven boundaries on his way to his highest score of the season.
His splendid innings suffered a cruel twist of fate after a ball from Cooper hit his body and took an unfortunate bounce back onto his stumps, bowling him for 71.
Tom Alexander made the most of the fortunate break for the Crows, grabbing the last three wickets of the innings.
First, he lured Tatchell into an aggressive shot caught by Oddie in the deep, removing Tatchell for 14.
Grant Rogers was Alexander’s next victim, dismissed for a swift 12 in a near identical mode as Tatchell, with Oddie grabbing his third catch of the day.
Lastly, Alexander bowled Nick Henderson for a duck to ensure the Colts finished on 244, with Peter Egan unbeaten on eight.
The spinning triad of Alexander (3/40 off 11.1 overs), Oddie (3/60 off 20.2 overs) and Cooper (2/56 off 17 overs) provided the bulk of the damage for the Crows, while Egan provided an encore performance to his 60 runs he scored the last time he played at Goldfields Reserve in round five, top scoring with 71.
Despite the efforts of Henderson, Jackson and Scorer, Beaufort openers Ellis and Josh Lofts successfully navigated the last three overs of the day.
The Crows will return to Goldfields Reserve sitting on 0/4 with Ellis on four and Lofts on naught, needing 241 runs for first innings points.