Sport
11 November, 2025
Maryborough survives Clunes assault
After being restricted to 144 from the Clunes bowlers, Maryborough’s attack proved to be even more potent, bowling the hosts out for 99 to record the season one-day double over the Magpies.
A run-a-ball 48 from Alex Burrow, coupled with solid knocks from Oliver Bennett and Kristopher Bagley, allowed the Owls to reach a solid total despite some exceptional bowling from Ritik Yadav, Dylan and Noah Davies.
With the Magpies’ run chase opening strongly thanks to Anthony Ellis and Ahmed Rehman, a devastating spell from Ben Hoban changed the game for Maryborough, recording their fourth win of the season with a 45-run victory.
Clunes won the toss at Bull Millgate Oval and elected to bowl first, sending in Maryborough openers Hoban and Bennett, who recorded a 93-run partnership in their last outing versus Beaufort.
With MDCA A grade leading wicket-taker Noah Davies bowling brilliantly almost immediately, Hoban and Bennett tried to attack Brad Stevenson at the other end.
That game plan brought about Hoban’s downfall, with Stevenson taking the first wicket with the help of a catch from Dylan Davies.
After excelling in the field, Dylan Davies started to alter the game with the ball, opening his account by dismissing the explosive Mitch McClure, who was caught by Fred Penhall for a duck.
Suddenly 2/25, Bennett started to up his aggression for the Owls while allowing the new man in, Liam Radlof, to settle into his innings.
However, Dylan Davies wasn’t done taking wickets, bowling the threatening Bennett for 22 after he hit four boundaries.
Yadav swooped another wicket for the Magpies, removing Radlof for naught with a Brenton Jones catch to put Clunes well and truly on top.
In desperate need of a stabilising stand at 4/43, the expansive Burrow relieved some angst for the Owls, well supported by Bagley, who was blunting the Magpies’ attack.
The duo added a valuable 51 runs before Rehman collected his first wicket of the season at a critical time, capturing the big fish of Burrow for 48 with an LBW dismissal.
With Burrow finally out of the equation, Clunes began to run down Maryborough’s lower order, with Dylan Davies securing his third wicket when Penhall caught Troy Bursill for two.
Yadav scored another break-through shortly thereafter when Elliot Ashburn was caught by Rehman for three.
The partnership of Bagley and Sam Thomson provided some resistance before Yadav ended Bagley’s innings at 28, thanks to a catch by Noah Davies.
Following his excellent opening spell, Noah Davies finally got his rewards by cleaning up the tail, first removing Thomson for nine with Penhall’s third catch before ending the innings by dismissing Daniel Petter for an entertaining eight when he was caught by Rehman.
Oliver Cassidy was left stranded for Maryborough on four as Maryborough finished their innings with 144.
Dylan Davies (3/38) and Yadav (3/26) fully capitalised on the early pressure caused by Noah Davies (2/14), putting Clunes in the driver’s seat to record their first win since the 2024 semi-final.
Cassidy delivered a hammer blow to the Magpies’ aspirations by bowling Stevenson for four to give the Owls the early wicket they desperately needed.
Joined by the in-form Rehman at the crease, the Magpies’ leading run-scorer last season, Ellis, looked destined for a big score with some fine strokes.
With Clunes chipping away at the target, Maryborough threw the ball to Hoban, who proceeded to strike with authority.
He opened by bowling Ellis for a well-made 26 to seed some unease in the Magpies camp at 2/45.
Petter provided some support for Hoban at the other end by dismissing the new man in Jones for one with a catch from Bennett.
That unease became queasy when Hoban removed the talented Mitch Coppick for a duck thanks to a catch from wicket-keeper Bursill and suddenly the Owls were rolling.
Mark Allen tried to stem the tide alongside Rehman, but he became a victim of Hoban when he was caught by Bursill for seven to place Clunes at 5/68.
Despite wickets falling around him, the Magpies were still within a chance with Rehman in the middle, but he too was gone at the hands of Hoban for 24, thanks to a sharp catch from Burrow.
Penhall kept the Magpies’ glimmer of hope alight with some quick boundaries, but Bennett capitalised on a running miscom-munication to run out Penhall for 10 to stricken Clunes to 7/82.
Cassidy bowled Brendan Ingram for three a few balls later before Bagley and Petter cleaned up the tail, with Bagley ending Dylan Davies for six with a caught and bowled and Petter claiming the wicket of Yadav for two with a catch from Ashburn.
Hoban’s outstanding performance with the ball earned him figures of 4/21 from eight overs, while Ellis top-scored for Clunes with 26.