Sport
14 January, 2025
Fourteen fall during Beaufort’s clash with Carisbrook
A total of 14 wickets fell in a fascinating day of play between Carisbrook and Beaufort, with all results still to play for.
The visitors won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat hoping to make early inroads into their batting line-up.
Carisbrook openers Brayden Wright and William Coutts were determined to make a good start and combined for 23 before Jayden Scotland got the opening break-through of Coutts who was caught by Lachlan Oddie.
Scotland generated another wicket soon thereafter, this time in the field running out Elliot Cullinan for four.
Following a 16-run partnership between Wright and Liam Hurse, it was the Crows Toby Alexander and Joe Kingsbury’s turn to join in the action.
The former removed Liam Hurse for eight after a shot was caught behind the stumps by wicketkeeper Charlie Dyer while the latter forced Wright to pop a ball straight to Toby Alexander after a well-made 21.
When Dean Nalder entered the crease to join Jordan Hooper, Carisbrook was 4/49 and desperately needed a strong partnership.
The pair delivered while under enormous pressure from the Beaufort attack, making 47 runs before Thomas Alexander managed to find the wicket of Hooper, caught by Dyer after making 16.
With Hooper back in the pavilion, Nalder was given free rein to swing for the fences. He took the chance with fury in a dynamo innings which saw 10 fours and a six.
Unfortunately for Nalder and Carisbrook, the Crows ensured Nalder didn’t have a partner in the middle for long to prolong his white-hot display.
First, it was Oddie claiming the wicket of Cole Harris for three as he was caught by Ben Woolidge.
Lucas Hurse and Lachlan Bursill had small stays at the crease with scores of naught and 5 respectively after being dismissed in the same way, caught Oddie, bowled Thomas Alexander.
Joel Pymer got his just rewards for his efforts with the ball by taking the last two wickets, bowling Atticus Cullinan for six and getting Caleb Cluff out for a golden duck after he was caught by Dyer.
That left Carisbrook all out for 149 after 52 overs. Running out of partners, Nalder finished with an unbeaten 67, his highest score since the brilliant 102 he made against Colts Phelans in round 12 last season.
Thomas Alexander claimed best figures with 3/50 and the bowling performances of Pymer (2/20), Kingsbury (1/6), Toby Alexander (1/10), Scotland (1/19) and Oddie (1/24) ensured the Crows were a threat of taking wickets throughout the innings.
With 23 overs left in the day’s play, Beaufort looked to consolidate their position in the driver’s seat with the helping bats of Alexander’s Toby and Thomas.
Carisbrook had other ideas.
Displaying their team logo to a tee, Carisbrook came out on fire with the ball with opening bowlers Lucas Hurse and Atticus Cullinan setting the tone.
It was Lucas Hurse who got the first breakthrough, getting Toby Alexander to hit a shot straight to Cluff for nine, then he caught Thomas Alexander for two off the bowling of Atticus Cullinan.
As the Crows sat at 2/12, new batsmen Lachlan Oddie and Thomas Grant were determined to steer the ship back into Beaufort’s control.
After a 26-run partnership, it was Lucas Hurse who made that plan hit two icebergs.
He first hit the stumps to remove the big wicket of Oddie after a quickfire 13, then got Grant to top edge a ball into the waiting hands of Coutts after he made 16.
That left the Crows at 4/44, leaving Dyer and Kingsbury to try and survive the final moments of the day.
Despite great bowling perfor-mances of Liam Hurse, Nalder and Wright, the duo managed to survive to leave Beaufort at 4/62 and the end of play.
Dyer did a remarkable job of navigating 36 balls for one run to remain unbeaten and will resume his innings with Kingsbury who is on 13 after 24 balls.
Lucas Hurse and Atticus Cullinan will once again look to make an instant impact on proceedings this Saturday and build off their figures of 3/20 and 1/20.