Sport
21 March, 2024
Talbot and Clunes fight for A reserve glory
Talbot and Clunes will meet for the Ken Gibbs Shield to decide the A reserve premiers on Saturday afternoon. It was perhaps fitting that the teams that finished first and second meet in the grand final, however, it’s been a story of two very...
Talbot and Clunes will meet for the Ken Gibbs Shield to decide the A reserve premiers on Saturday afternoon.
It was perhaps fitting that the teams that finished first and second meet in the grand final, however, it’s been a story of two very different seasons for both teams.
Both teams have shown a great ability to score quickly, while also taking wickets at key times. So, which way this game ends up — whether it is a high-scoring run-fest or a low-scoring game where the bowlers take charge, will be fascinating.
In a way, one could say Talbot has been a little frustrated to have had six of their 15 games either abandoned or unplayed due to forfeits.
But when they have taken to the park, they have looked very strong for the large part, save for their 22-run loss to Natte Yallock in round nine.
From their nine games this season, the Yabbies have averaged 166.7 runs at five runs an over — which has shown their appetite for scoring runs quickly.
Jack Kenden has had an outstanding campaign again, leading all wicket-takers for the season with 20, while also scoring 225 runs for the season.
But the sum of Talbot’s parts makes for an excellent all-round lineup, one that excels with both bat and ball.
Muzakkir Mohiuddin Mohammed put together one of the Yabbies’ best performances of the season last Saturday, sweeping aside everything Natte Yallock had to throw at him to finish unbeaten on 86, proving to be a big reason why the Yabbies made 216 in the end.
That performance took him to the top of Talbot’s run-scoring charts with 230 runs for the season, while it was the second-best performance by a Yabby with the bat this season, behind Kenden’s 93 in round 10 against Colts Phelans.
Talbot have four more batters who have made over 100 runs this season, suggesting that they’ll have deep depth when push comes to shove on Saturday, with Karl Gunther scoring 195 runs throughout the balance of the season, with Ryan Kenden scoring 112 and Jye Kenden and Jorde Bux 107 each.
Talbot are also more than just a strong batting lineup — they also boast a good bowling lineup.
They’re just one of two teams — the other is their opponents this week — to have four bowlers who have taken 10 or more wickets.
Jack’s aforementioned 20 leads the way, but Bux has also pushed himself up to 15 courtesy of a good performance in the semi-final where he took 3/17.
Jag Searle has been handy throughout the season, and has taken 12 wickets, while Lachlan Roche’s three-wicket haul of his own in the semi-final has taken him up to 10 wickets.
If any team are perhaps the equal of Talbot, perhaps Clunes offers up the most sustainable alternative throughout the season.
Like the Yabbies, the Magpies also have four players who have taken 10 or more wickets throughout the season, but while their batting numbers aren’t as strong, that masks the fact that Clunes have had to chase low totals in four of their wins.
Nevertheless, Clunes have averaged 148.5 runs per game at a brisk run rate of 5.1 per over — ranked number one in the competition.
The Magpies have batted first on just five occasions this season, but when they have, they have been devastating with the bat, scoring an average of 216.8 runs.
Unlike Talbot, Clunes don’t have a bevy of runscorers that have scored above 100 runs this season — more or less reflecting the above fact — but they still have excellent scorers in the team, with Fred Penhall leading the way with 181 runs for the season.
Penhall’s ability to score quickly will be crucial, as it is with Mark Jenkin, who has scored 152 runs for the season.
Add in Dylan Davies, who scored a crucial 57 in their semi-final victory against Maryborough, as well as Rajitha Perera (96 runs), Daniel Fordham (94) and the experienced Todd Featherston (89) and Clunes have a very stable top and middle order capable of frustrating their opponents.
Where the Magpies have cashed in this season has been their bowling department.
Muhammad Shehzad leads the way with 16 wickets, which is good enough for second on the A reserve charts, and will love the Carisbrook pitch, having scored 46 and taken 5/17 in his last game at the ground.
The Magpies have also had terrific contributions this season from Brad Stevenson, who has taken 14 wickets, Paul Coon, who has 13 wickets, and Josh Dunn, who has added 11 wickets.
Brett Coon could loom as another option who will benefit the Magpies, regardless of whether he is picked in the Magpies’ A grade team or A reserve team, and the young gun has added nine wickets in A reserve this season.
Talbot comes into this game with the psychological advantage, having won by 80 runs in their only meeting this season against the Magpies, held at Talbot Recreation Reserve.
On that occasion, Ryan scored 51 runs to lead the way for the Yabbies, who also had good performances from Gunther, who scored 27, and Mohammed, who added 28.
Dunn led the way with three wickets for the Magpies, while Paul added two, as did Josh Thompson.
But when it came time for Clunes to bat, they were unable to keep their wickets sufficiently enough to make a game of it with the Yabbies.
Just one batsman — Thomas Hardy, made above 10 for the Magpies, who were overwhelmed and bowled out for 91 off 23 overs.
Bux led the way with four wickets, while Searle added three and Jack two.
