Sport
24 October, 2022
Owls secure first win as season gets underway
MARYBOROUGH 2/83 def BEAUFORT 4/74 Maryborough made a winning return to A grade competition on the weekend with a dominant victory over Beaufort at Jubilee Oval. The Owls were prepared to make their return a big one, making big statements with their...
MARYBOROUGH 2/83 def BEAUFORT 4/74
Maryborough made a winning return to A grade competition on the weekend with a dominant victory over Beaufort at Jubilee Oval.
The Owls were prepared to make their return a big one, making big statements with their signings, particularly in the bowling department, and it was indeed their line and length that troubled the Crows throughout the afternoon on what was a relatively tricky pitch to play on following overnight rain.
Nevertheless, the opening bowling duo of Harry Lumsden and Akon Mawien proved difficult to score runs against, with Lumsden’s four over spell returning figures of 2/11, while Mawien’s bowling was spectacularly consistent, conceding just six runs from his four overs, which included two maidens.
The Owls got off to the perfect start when Mawien caught the inside edge of Kriss Ellis onto the stumps for just one run.
Beaufort, to their credit, then started to get onto a bit of a partnership, with Nick Stabbins (16 retired not out) and Blake Jantzen (31) putting on a partnership before Stabbins’ retirement. Lachlan Oddie came to the crease, but he was unable to pick up the run rate, clean bowled by Chris Freeman for five runs.
The Crows desperately needed runs, but Maryborough were proving much too economical with the ball, and Craig Grant was next to go when he was bowled by Lumsden. Shortly thereafter, Jantzen was removed, with Mitch McClure’s sure hands ensuring Lumsden would take his second wicket in succession.
In the end, the Crows were restricted to 4/74 off their 20 overs, with the Owls needing to score at just under four an over to get the win.
It appeared, however, that the Crows were up for the fight when they removed Zac McLeod early on, with Richard Stokes bowling him for just five runs.
However, some good batting from Sam Bartlett and McClure proved that there were indeed ways to score on this pitch, with Bartlett making a quickfire 29 which included two fours and two sixes before holing out to Jantzen off the bowling of Ellis.
It was left to McClure and Martin Dell to finish off the job, and they were able to do so by the end of the 15th over, with the Owls reaching 2/83.
The game proved that Maryborough’s formidable bowling attack will be a handful for opposition teams throughout the 2022/23 season, with Lumsden and Mawien’s efforts matched by Freeman (1/9 off three overs), while McLeod (0/13 off three overs) was another who consistently kept the run rate down.
For Beaufort, Jantzen was the pick of the bowlers, taking 1/5 off his two overs, while Stokes took 1/11 off three overs. However, they were unable to get the runs required to defend a winnable total.
It was the only game of round three, as the Clunes and Colts Phelans game at Hedges Oval was called off due to a wet outfield that was unable to dry off in time.
Maryborough now has the bye in round four ahead of a local derby against Colts Phelans to round out their T20 season, while Beaufort will need to rebound next week as they host Clunes.
