Sport
30 November, 2023
Plenty to play for in fifth round of A reserve
All eight teams will play on Saturday as they look to make their mark on round five of the A reserve competition. Talbot V Maryborough The key game of round five sees a top-two blockbuster between Maryborough and Talbot at Talbot Recreation Reserve...
All eight teams will play on Saturday as they look to make their mark on round five of the A reserve competition.
Talbot V Maryborough
The key game of round five sees a top-two blockbuster between Maryborough and Talbot at Talbot Recreation Reserve.
This could prove to be a high-scoring encounter, with both teams scoring at a terrific clip to start the season.
The Owls are the leading run-scorers in the competition, although they had to work for their victory against MKM after they were bowled out for 158.
To highlight their dominance of the competition’s early stages, five batsmen have already scored 75 or more runs, with four scoring over 90.
Talbot, to their end, had their first chance to bat first for the season after chasing in their previous two games, and finished with 8/236 against Beaufort.
The Yabbies are currently operating at a run-rate above six an over in their three games so far, while their bowling lineup has also been brutal, taking 29 of a possible 30 wickets.
MKM V Clunes
Hot on both teams’ hammers are Clunes, who took a big win over Carisbrook in their last start two weeks ago to sit in third place, and will be looking to continue their good form when they travel to MKM.
The Mill have been on the right track in all four of their games so far, but haven’t quite been able to find the consistency they have needed with the bat or the ball at crucial stages as they still seek their first win of the season.
Meantime, Clunes have responded emphatically from their big round two loss to Maryborough, scoring 519 runs in their last two games against Beaufort and Carisbrook respectively.
Carisbrook V Natte Yallock
Natte Yallock will travel to Carisbrook as they look to maintain their spot inside the top four.
The Swans suffered their first loss of the season in their last start against Colts Phelans in what was quite an even game, and they’ll be looking to bounce back quickly.
A win for Natte, coupled with Colts Phelans defeating Beaufort, will see the gap between fifth place and sixth-placed Carisbrook sit at two games after just five rounds.
The Brookers will be looking for greater consistency, having had three big losses so far this season, including a 144-run defeat to Clunes in their last start two weeks ago.
Colts Phelans V Beaufort
Colts Phelans will be looking to add another high-scoring knock to their repertoire this season when they host Beaufort.
Since being restricted to just 92 runs in their first game against Clunes, Colts have been strong with the bat, scoring an average of 213 runs in their last three games, particularly with competition leading run-scorer Dean Walker scoring 209 runs to start the season.
The winless Crows have fought incredibly hard so far this season, despite a few heavy losses, and to their credit, have been able to avoid losing wickets in big clumps, an issue that plagued them last season.
Instead, they have plugged away at ensuring they are able to play consistent cricket, and have greatly improved their scoring with 502 runs for the season, which is already over half of their total from last season, where they scored 924 runs from 11 matches.