Sport
12 November, 2024
Colts take out close game against Crows
REDPATH TYRE AND BATTERY SERVICE A GRADE BEAUFORT 9/171 def by COLTS PHELANS 6/173
Colts Phelans appear to be firming as a legitimate premier-ship threat, defeating Beaufort in a thrilling affair by four wickets.
Colts bravely elected to send Beaufort in after winning the toss, given the Crows have scored well when batting first this season.
The Crows got to 21 before Regan Goundry had the first wicket of the day, trapping fellow Englishman Tom Alexander in front for 11.
Soon, Beaufort would have the game on their terms for a significant period, and they were able to enjoy a 52-run second-wicket partnership between Joshua Lofts and Thomas Grant.
Grant continued his solid form with the bat, ensuring that he was able to get another good start, but was soon brought undone by Dayne Baker, who bowled him for 30.
That changed the complexion of the game just a touch, with Lofts soon joining him in the shed not long after for 19, with Charlie Scorer getting his first wicket of the afternoon.
Colts would soon have a third wicket for just seven runs, with Scorer getting a tickle on Blake Jantzen’s bat to Luke Tatchell behind the stumps for a duck, and it was Colts who were now in control of the game.
However, there was still a significant roadblock in Colts’ quest for total control, and that would be Lachlan Oddie, who was able to release the shackles with the bat, and scored at a good clip to keep the Crows in the game.
He provided the bulk of the 38-run partnership for the fifth wicket stand with Joe Kingsbury, who stuck around for good support before Baker broke the deadlock, with Rhys Wagstaff taking a catch for six.
It was clear the tail would need to provide support for Oddie and hang around as long as possible to give Beaufort the best chance of making a score.
Jayden Scotland did a reasonable job in scoring 10 before he was undone by Max Jackson, before Goundry came on to finish off most of the tail.
Goundry gave himself a four-wicket haul thanks to bowling Malcolm Woolley, Ben Grant and Nicolas Stares in quick succession, but the Crows would bat out the innings, largely thanks to Oddie who remained unbeaten on 60 — continuing a sparkling run of form which has seen him record four half-centuries in his last five innings against Colts.
From a bowling standpoint, Goundry’s 4/25 off seven was key, as was Baker’s 2/23 off eight overs, while Scorer also took 2/28 off eight.
Colts had a job to do still, and needed Rhys Egan to continue his good form with the bat.
Thankfully for Colts, he was up to the job, and as it turned out, it was much-needed, for he provided the bulk of the runs across the first half of the innings.
Around him, wickets were falling.
Scotland got the Crows off to a good start by claiming two key wickets, with Scorer out for five, before Jackson would soon be gone for three.
With Ben bowling Wagstaff for three, Colts were soon struggling on 3/39.
Egan was still the key wicket, but he was steadily seeing partners stay at the crease for a short time.
Ben Evans was next to go for three, with Scotland claiming his wicket, and it left Colts at 4/63.
Soon, there was a key moment in the game, with Egan out, having provided 60 of the 82 runs scored by Colts at that point. Oddie struck with the ball in one of his key contributions.
Rhys Smith and Goundry would get to work, determined to ensure their captain’s big contribution wouldn’t go to waste.
That helped deliver a 36-run partnership, which helped Colts to get back on track.
The Crows were still very much in the game, with Ben claiming his second wicket to remove Smith for 22.
Goundry was determined to see the game out, and was critical in the final partnership of the game with Tatchell, who played an anchor role.
A partnership of 55 runs was just what Colts needed to take the game away from the Crows, and they managed to make their target of 172 with just one over to spare.
Goundry was in just as spectacular form with the bat as he was with the ball, scoring an unbeaten 53 to punctuate his impact on the game, while Tatchell finished unbeaten on eight.
Scotland took 3/45 for Beaufort off eight overs, while Ben took 2/22 off eight.