Sport
20 February, 2023
Day to remember for Wagstaff with first A grade ton
Rhys Wagstaff was the hero for Colts Phelans on Saturday, scoring the club’s first A grade century since William Collicoat’s effort in round eight of the 2018/19 season to help give them control of their game against Clunes. Prior to Saturday...
Rhys Wagstaff was the hero for Colts Phelans on Saturday, scoring the club’s first A grade century since William Collicoat’s effort in round eight of the 2018/19 season to help give them control of their game against Clunes.
Prior to Saturday, Wagstaff’s highest score in cricket was 71, achieved at under 16 level in 2013/14. And while making two half-centuries in A reserve during the season, had yet to break through for a half-century at A grade level.
Yet he put it all aside on Saturday in what was a calculated, chanceless innings before his eventual removal for 103.
It was the highest score from a Colts player in A grade since Collicoat’s 118 in the opening round of the 2015/16 season against Laanecoorie Dunolly.
Wagstaff’s innings was made more important given the early form Clunes displayed — in particular, Ashley Gunn.
He took two early wickets, with Wayne Stubbings and Ed Foreman removed, to leave Colts reeling, but they were soon able to recover off the back of Wagstaff and Rhys Egan, who put together a solid partnership. Egan eventually finished on 47 before being removed.
Shortly after, Jackson Gordon was also removed, with the first day’s play in the balance at 4/116 at the tea break.
Much of the day’s play hinged on how Wagstaff would continue on alongside Callum Watts, and Wagstaff emphatically answered any doubts he might have had with some quality shotmaking after the break.
At times, Colts also took advantage of the long boundaries at Hedges Oval, with a handful of deliveries seeing both batsmen run four runs, emphasising how crucial every run was proving to be throughout the day.
However, with Wagstaff nearing his 100, wickets were slowly trickling. Both Watts and Matthew Scott were clean-bowled, and Richard Clark also lost his wicket to leave Colts 7/195.
But Colts held out long enough for Wagstaff to bring up his 100 in the 65th over with a fine pull shot which reached the fence. His joy was short-lived, however, as he was removed on the very next delivery for 103.
Colts’ tail swung away towards the final overs of the day, and would eventually reach 234 before being bowled out in the 76th over — the first time Clunes has managed the feat this season.
Full batting and bowling scorecards were unavailable at the time of production.
Going into the second day’s play, Colts will be looking to ensure that the Magpies don’t get too close to their total, having shown reasonable form with the bat of late. But they will be looking to take first innings points regardless, and doing so, coupled with some added resistance from Beaufort in their game against Maryborough, would ensure that they would finish second on the A grade ladder.
