Sport
2 November, 2023
Crows face test to secure T20 final spot
It’s the biggest game for Beaufort in almost two years, as they fight for a potential berth in the T20 grand final against Laanecoorie Dunolly at True Blue Floors Oval. The Crows have swooped into contention thanks to two big wins against Colts...
It’s the biggest game for Beaufort in almost two years, as they fight for a potential berth in the T20 grand final against Laanecoorie Dunolly at True Blue Floors Oval.
The Crows have swooped into contention thanks to two big wins against Colts Phelans and Maryborough in the last fortnight — but this is quite distinctly their biggest test.
It’s a Laanecoorie Dunolly team that are simply taking all before them at the moment, having made 323 runs without losing a wicket across their past two games, and overall, have just lost six wickets in four games.
That has meant that Laane’s top order has been able to dominate, and Tom Hannett, Luke Smith and Sam Bartlett have cashed in over the last two weeks.
The trio currently account for a remarkable 88 percent of Laane’s runs so far in the 2023/24 season, with Smith’s 88 and Hannett’s 71 last week allowing them to make 170 without loss against Carisbrook.
It would be remiss not to mention Laane’s bowling spread. Nine players have taken wickets across their lineup — ranked number one in the competition, with Jarred Russell and Thang Nguyen adding to their list last week with some good bowling.
Beaufort have reason to believe they are capable of quelling Laane’s top order mix, having taken the most wickets across the season so far.
The Crows have had a number of additions help their cause during the season, with Jay English currently leading all wicket-takers in the competition with 11.
Joe Kingsbury and Jack Smith has also provided plenty since their arrival from England, with the duo already combining for 123 runs and four wickets since their round two debut.
However, it’s the form of Lachlan Oddie which has provided the Crows with the greatest ammunition so far this season.
Oddie was again smooth with the bat during his innings against the Owls last Saturday, although he still played second-fiddle to a fine Kriss Ellis 50 in their win.
However, the leading run-scorer in the competition was still able to come up with a handy 28 runs.
With the ball, Oddie took two crucial wickets to stem the flow of the Owls’ innings and keep the Crows in with a shot of making the first grand final of the season — which would be some recovery after going winless across 2022/23.
This will be the first T20 meeting between the two clubs since the 2021 decider, which saw Laane powered by six Daniel Romeo wickets to win by 79 runs.
Matt Smith made an unbeaten 44, while Steven Dellavedova contributed with 33 as Laane made 4/132 off their 20 overs.
Although Craig Grant and Oddie gave Beaufort a footing, sitting 1/26, Romeo soon destroyed any thought of the Crows giving their target a shake, taking 6/14, as the Crows were bowled out for 53.
