Sport
10 February, 2026
Fifteen wickets fall on day one at Hedges
Despite being skittled for 125, Beaufort’s bowling attack has kept the Bulls in contention to conquer the reigning premiers, mowing through the Colts’ top order to set the stage for an intriguing day’s play this Saturday.
With Asim Akhtar delivering a 6/38 wrecking ball to the visitors’ top-order, the Colts threatened to have the Bulls virtually wrapped up with a day to play.
Hoping not to waste another excellent knock for the red-hot Jarrod Blandford, the Bulls stampeded to five quick wickets at the end of day one, with the Colts still needing 74 runs to take first innings points.
Beaufort won the toss and elected to bat first, giving the fresh opening pairing of Blandford and Nick Stabbins the chance to replicate their round 12 heroics against Maryborough.
The Colts’ stalwart seamer Nick Henderson threw a fireball into those plans, bowling Stabbins for six.
With Dayne Baker unavailable for the Colts, Akhtar was introduced into the attack earlier than usual, repaying the faith with a vital double breakthrough.
After getting Theo Trevelyan-Clark caught by Hunter Kurzke for one, Akhtar dispatched Lachlan Oddie for a duck thanks to a Liam Stubbings catch, sending Beaufort into a tailspin at 3/14.
Bulls captain Brandon Walsh attempted to provide the lifeboat to Beaufort’s floundering innings alongside Blandford, but those aspirations quickly collided with a Jack Mensforth shaped iceberg.
The Englishman got Walsh to edge a delivery to Rhys Egan at slip, who completed a sharp catch to remove Walsh for 10.
Mensforth had a second wicket shortly thereafter, thanks to another great catch, this time from Akhtar, to dismiss Charlie Dyer for three.
Now 5/37, the Bulls’ nightmare was inches away from being a horror show when Mensforth caught the edge of the new man in Lyle Aichroth. Fortunately for Beaufort, Egan couldn’t take advantage, with the chance falling safely to ground.
Aichroth made the most of his second life, playing the role of anchor as Blandford continued to be the linchpin for the Bulls.
Akhtar finally brought an end to the valuable 38-run partnership when Aichroth was caught by Wayne Stubbings for nine.
Jayden Scotland provided some entertaining hitting for the visitors, scoring 13 before being castled by Liam Stubbings.
The floodgates bellowed after Scotland’s dismissal, with Akhtar removing Ben Woolidge for naught thanks to a catch from wicketkeeper Luke Tatchell and bowling Malcolm Woolley for a duck in quick succession.
After reaching his fifth half-century of the A grade season, Blandford threw caution to the wind late, reaching 76 before hitting an Akhtar delivery into the gloves of Tatchell, officially bowling the Bulls out in 52.3 overs.
Entering the match with season-best figures of 3/19, Akhtar finally earned figures more reflective of his destructive talents, finishing with 6/38 from 14.3 overs.
Mensforth was the other multiple wicket-taker for the Colts, taking 2/15 and three maidens from nine overs.
With 23 overs left in the day’s play, openers Ben Evans and Rhys Wagstaff attempted to get the Colts off to a speedy start similar to their successful round 12 run chase versus Carisbrook.
However, as clouds began to cover Hedges Oval, Beaufort came out of the innings break extremely motivated to maximise the favourable conditions.
Dyer transferred that motivation into electric energy for the Bulls when he dismissed Evans for three thanks to a catch from Stabbins.
Placed under serious pressure almost immediately, Wagstaff and the new man in Wayne Stubbings looked suitable candidates to maintain the hosts’ commanding position.
That was until they ran into Scotland, who channeled his inner Braveheart to remove Wagstaff for 10 with the help of a Woolidge catch before piercing Wayne Stubbings’ stumps after he scored nine.
Egan was powerless to stop the onslaught, skying a Trevelyan-Clark ball that was caught by Blandford, gone for three and placing the Colts in enormous trouble at 4/29.
After navigating lethal spells from Scotland and Trevelyan-Clark, things became even trickier for the new pairing of Akhtar and Mensforth when Walsh and Oddie were introduced into the attack.
The pair were then dropped in back-to-back overs, including what would’ve been an outstanding catch from Trevelyan-Clark to remove Akhtar.
Just as the partnership looked to get through the day unscathed, Walsh got his man, with Mensforth caught by Stabbins for six.
Akhtar and Liam Stubbings will resume the Colts’ innings after navigating the remaining balls, ending the day unbeaten on 16 and one respectively.
Scotland stood out in an outstanding Beaufort bowling performance to conclude day one, sitting on figures of 2/18.