Sport
9 March, 2023
Laane and Colts down to the wire for second day’s play
Let’s set the scene. For Laanecoorie Dunolly, it’s the chance to preserve a 30-game winning streak in the unlikeliest of manners, their greatest test in some time. To defend 106 would be a true mark of finding a way out in adversity like the...
Let’s set the scene.
For Laanecoorie Dunolly, it’s the chance to preserve a 30-game winning streak in the unlikeliest of manners, their greatest test in some time. To defend 106 would be a true mark of finding a way out in adversity like the great teams that have come before them.
For Colts Phelans, the minor premiership is within reach, yet the reward for winning this game could be far greater. The chance of a statement win leading into finals. And the chance to prove they could be the team to beat at the right time of year.
So much is on the line for this game when it resumes at True Blue Floors Oval on day two tomorrow.
Seventy-three is the magic number for Colts Phelans — that’s how many runs are required to take a memorable first-innings victory.
There is some surety that will be coming to the crease, with Colts’ leader run-scorer Ed Foreman starting unbeaten on 10, while Richie Clark will look to get off the mark quickly.
But runs in this game have not been easy by any means. The 34 runs that Colts made when they commenced their batting innings came from 28 overs. Sixteen of those overs were maiden overs from Laane’s bowlers, highlighting just how much pressure there was to perform.
Making the target and getting first innings points would probably be just reward for an excellent Colts bowling performance. They were able to put scoreboard pressure on early for the Laane batting lineup, and continued on with it throughout the first 47 overs of Saturday’s play.
Nick Henderson and Richie Clark led the way early on Saturday, combining for the first six wickets of the game. That would soon allow Wayne Stubbings to clean up the tail, and he eventually took the last four wickets for 22 runs to help bowl Laane out for 106.
The most impressive part was that Colts Phelans achieved this without a significant contribution from their two best bowlers, statistically, coming into this game.
Ben Stubbings and Matt Scott had combined for 28 wickets coming into this game, yet bowled only 13 overs put together on Saturday, highlighting just how much control Colts had on the game in the early stages.
And yet, for all that, it would still be remiss to write Laane off.
They’ve shown that they can win games from any position — just look at the one-day final from earlier this season, when Colts put them under severe pressure with the ball in the opening 10 overs, before Laane took control.
There is an air of resilience that has taken them so far in the past that will be called upon on Saturday.
They too boast some incredible strike weapons. League-leading wicket taker Ben Gunn will be key to Laane’s chances, having bowled well from his seven overs on day one, taking a wicket and bowling five maidens from his seven overs. Likewise, Joe Lovel and Samit Gohil have been putting pressure on with the ball as well, with Lovel bowling four maidens from six overs, and Gohil taking Colts’ other wicket from the first day’s play.
Consistency in the field has also been Laane’s modus operandi throughout the season. They do not give an inch in terms of extras — on Saturday, there were no wides, byes or no-balls. And with a league-leading six run-outs in season 2022/23, they’ll also be looking to keep their excellent track record afloat by putting pressure on the Colts batting lineup to score.
It all adds up to be a potential classic finish tomorrow, with plenty more than just premiership points on offer for both teams.