Sport
14 February, 2025
Maryborough retains A reserve lead
Maryborough remains 12 points clear at the top of the A reserve ladder, while Beaufort is making a late charge up the ladder with only four rounds left in the regular season.
Clunes 90 def by Beaufort 4/96
A strong bowling performance against the Magpies was the catalyst for the Crows to pick up their third consecutive victory and leapfrog into fifth.
Clunes started strongly, with Noah Davies scoring 35 to complement the starting partnership of Thomas Hardy and Lucas Fudge.
However, Hardy’s dismissal with the Magpies at 3/71 triggered a mass collapse, with Clunes losing their last seven wickets for 19 runs.
Six Beaufort bowlers collected a wicket to limit Clunes to a total of 90, headlined by Nick Stabbins collecting 3/33 and productive spells from Nicolas Stares (2/8 from 4.4 overs) and Nathan Elford (2/8 from three overs).
A 56-run partnership between Elford and David Kiely ensured the visitors got over the line comfortably with 11 overs to spare.
Paul Coon grabbed multiple wickets for the Magpies, finishing with figures of 2/12, while Davies and Timothy Nicholson also collected a wicket each.
MKM 4/130 def Laanecoorie Dunolly 129
A Muhammad Haseeb Khan batting masterclass alongside MKM’s efforts with the ball secured their second victory of the season.
The MKM bowling attack managed to grab consistent breakthroughs throughout the opening innings, with Dylan Fox (2/11), Tyson Knight (2/17) and Khan (2/23) all grabbing multiple wickets.
MKM wicketkeeper Jarrod Nedelkovski was also heavily involved in the action, grabbing five catches and a stumping.
Steven Dellavedova’s 37 brought some much needed stability to Laane’s innings after they found themselves 3/33, while handy 20s from Nathan Leist and Nicholas Earl gave the visitors a defendable total.
However, they were powerless to stop Khan, who finished on 92 not out after slugging four fours and a mammoth eight sixes.
Jayden McDonald was the pick of the bowlers for Laane, grabbing figures of 2/29 from his five overs.
Talbot 141 def Maryborough 6/143
Maryborough now has a three-game cushion over Talbot after their four-wicket victory at Talbot Recreation Reserve.
Jason Hunt and Oliver Cassidy dismantled the Yabbies’ top order, grabbing two early wickets each to leave the hosts teetering at 5/31.
Kaian Constable managed to save the sinking ship for Talbot, scoring 45 from only 57 deliveries. He was well supported by Matthew Zeuschner and Anton Roche to get the score up to 141.
Karl Gunther brought a needed early breakthrough for Talbot, removing James Scott cheaply, but much of the Owls’ batting lineup got into double figures to chip away at the total.
Fresh off his 61 against Clunes, Ben Robertson once again high-scored for Maryborough, making 37 from 50 balls.
Carisbrook 160 def by Colts Phelans 6/250
A 144-run opening partnership between David Forde and Aaron Balzan set the table for Colts Phelans to defeat Carisbrook and gain a six-point buffer in second.
The partnership included 18 boundaries, with Forde removed by David Coomber for 57 and Aaron Balzan dismissed by Elliot Cullinan for 73.
A quickfire 38 from 19 balls from Daniel Vadala allowed Colts to reach the second-highest team score of the season.
Cullinan and Axel Purcell were the two Carisbrook bowlers with multiple wickets, finishing with identical figures of 2/46 from their eight overs.
Cullinan and Brian Knight got the hosts’ run chase off and running, but they were unable to keep that momentum going after Grant Rogers and Graham Taylor sent both openers back to the pavilion.
Hunter Kurzke played a key role in breaking up numerous partnerships in the middle order, grabbing 4/26 from eight overs.
Bayden Macintyre was the other Colts bowler who collected multiple wickets, ending with figures of 2/19 from 4.2 overs.
Round 11
Round 11 hosts some intriguing matchups that will have noticeable ramifications on all areas of the table.
The match of the round is undoubtedly the top-of-the-table clash between Maryborough and Colts Phelans.
With three matches left to play after round 11, the Owls can all but secure the minor premiership with a victory.
Beaufort will look to make it four on the trot when they welcome MKM to Goldfields Reserve.
A win for the Crows could put them three points away from fourth if other results go their way.
Clunes and Carisbrook will look to bounce back from their losses in round 10 when the two teams clash at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve.
The Magpies will look to shoo away the chasing pack, with them currently holding the last finals spot in fourth.
Laanecoorie Dunolly will aim to keep themselves in finals contention when they play third-placed Talbot at Deledio Recreation Reserve.