Sport
21 January, 2025
Jackson’s heroics not enough for outright victory
Despite a magnificent 125 not out from Max Jackson, a strong batting performance from Clunes forces Colts Phelans to settle for first-innings points.
Play resumed at Hedges Oval with Colts batters Jackson and Regan Goundry needing 30 runs to claim victory for the hosts.
The pair managed to surpass the target of 140 rather comfortably as they continued to up the tempo in hopes of creating a big total for Colts to attack at an outright victory.
Their stellar 121-run partnership came to an end at the hands of Brett Coon, removing Goundry for 63 after he was caught by Dylan Davies.
Coon would strike again quickly thereafter, catching Mitchell McClure off guard for an LBW dismissal and sending him back to the pavilion for six.
When Benjamin Evans joined Jackson in the middle, the scoreboard read 5/193, with Colts needing to score runs quickly to keep their chances of an outright victory alive.
Evans was the perfect linchpin for Jackson, who carved the Clunes field on his way to his first century in Australia.
The pair would make a 42-run stand before Brendan Ingram would collect the wicket of Evans for 16 as Davies would grab his second catch of the day.
Jackson and new batsman Luke Tatchell added another 34 runs to the total before Mark Jenkin hit the stumps of Tatchell, bowling him out for four.
With Jackson and Daniel McGregor still at the crease at 7/277, Colts decided to declare to see if they could bowl out the Magpies with the time remaining.
Jackson was the star of the show with the bat in his hands, his unbeaten 125 is the second-highest score of the season behind Tom Hannett’s 138 not out in round nine.
The Magpies bowlers fought hard to halt Colt’s momentum with Brett Coon and Brad Stevenson rewarded for their efforts with figures of 2/44 and 2/85.
Jaxon Coon (1/22), Jenkin (1/24) and Ingram (1/37) also took wickets for the visitors.
With 40 overs left to play, Clunes either needed to make 137 runs or survive without losing all their wickets to deny Colts of leapfrogging Laanecoorie Dunolly in the standings.
It got off to the worst possible start for the Magpies, as Jenkin was caught behind by Tatchell off the bowling of Nick Henderson without a run on the scoreboard.
Fellow opener Anthony Ellis and Lucas Rais-Colvin ensured that wave of momentum didn’t turn into a tidal wave, knuckling down for a 40-run partnership.
But just as Clunes looked to settle into the contest, Colts would get a double breakthrough.
First, Dayne Baker dismissed Ellis as he was caught by McClure after a strong 30.
Then it was Henderson again causing trouble for the Magpies as he removed Rais-Colvin for eight after he was caught by Goundry.
That brought two new batsmen to the crease at 3/40 and everything still to play for.
Under enormous pressure to settle in quickly, Mark Allen and Ingram did a tremendous job protecting their wicket while combining for 34.
Evans was the one to bring the fourth wicket for Colts, knocking the castle of Ingram to send him back to the changerooms on 11.
Another 27 runs were added before Evans struck again, this time getting Davies to hit a shot to the waiting arms of Goundry after he made 17.
With Clunes only needing 36 runs and five wickets to play with, Colts needed wickets quickly to claim an outright victory.
Allen and new batsman at the crease Fred Penhall would stop those ambitions in their tracks, as the duo combined to get the Magpies past the 137 needed.
The day’s play would conclude with Clunes on 5/161, as Allen and Penhall would remain unbeaten with the former on 61 and the latter on 23.
Wickets from Henderson (2/34), Evans (2/36), and Baker (1/15) gave Colts a chance at an outright victory, but they will still be happy to be level on points with Laane in second.