Sport
9 November, 2023
One-day precursor to T20 grand final
Clunes and Laanecoorie Dunolly meet for the first of two cups they’ll be playing for this weekend, meeting for the Richards/Templeton Cup at Bull Millgate Oval on Saturday. It’s a tasty precursor to the T20 grand final to be played on Sunday...
Clunes and Laanecoorie Dunolly meet for the first of two cups they’ll be playing for this weekend, meeting for the Richards/Templeton Cup at Bull Millgate Oval on Saturday.
It’s a tasty precursor to the T20 grand final to be played on Sunday, with both teams looking to continue good starts to their one-day season.
Clunes recorded a solid win against Carisbrook in round three, while Laane weathered everything Maryborough threw at them in taking a nine-wicket win.
This game looms as an interesting battle between two teams which has deep batting stocks, while also being two of the most disciplined fielding teams in the competition.
Clunes will be desperate to make a statement on Saturday, especially given their collapse in their first meeting with Laane in round one, having lost 9/19 to be all out for 63.
Since then, however, they’ve been better with the bat, and have won four of their last five matches.
Mitch Coppick has taken to the captaincy like a fish to water, leading the way with a bat, boasting two 50s and sitting fifth on the run charts.
However, he has had solid support in the middle order, with Lachlan Morganti (93 runs) and Brenton Jones (80 runs) also providing important support so far this season.
With the ball, Clunes have had plentiful options to choose from, with Noah Davies, Ash Gunn, Jaxon Smyth and Brett Coon combining for 26 wickets this season.
Add in Muhammad Shehzad and Mark Allen, who have taken four wickets each, and they make up 34 of the Magpies’ 39 wickets.
The other five wickets have been run outs — ranked number one in the competition, showing their fielding prowess.
They will need to be up and about in all departments of the game if they are to score victory against Laane tomorrow.
Laane met a decent challenge against Beaufort last week, eventually winning by five wickets, but not without a scare, sitting at 4/55 at one stage.
However, one could also say that the likes of Tom Hannett and Ben Gunn were still in the sheds, while Sam Bartlett also showed his prowess throughout.
Bartlett has now made 125 runs for the season, but more importantly, has not been dismissed in three innings, and was a rock for Laane at important stages, eventually finishing with 29 runs.
He’s one of three batsmen that have made over 100 runs this season — ranked first in the competition, with Luke Smith (145 runs) and Hannett (139 runs) also providing big numbers in the early stages of the season.
Like Clunes, Laane have been incredibly disciplined with the ball, and along with the Magpies, are the only other team to have five bowlers take four or more wickets.
Daniel Romeo leads the way with seven, having taken 3/15 in their first round clash against the Magpies, while Sergio Rosier (six), Luke (five), Ben (five) and Lovel (four) have also been successful, with Ben’s 4/0 against the Magpies in round one a noteworthy performance.
When you factor in Zach Graham and Bartlett taking three wickets apiece, as well as three run outs (third in the competition), it makes for an incredibly well-rounded bowling lineup.