Sport
14 March, 2025
Talbot beat Crows to take last finals spot
Talbot has taken the last spot in the A reserve finals, denying Beaufort of a fairytale run and setting up a semi-final against Colts Phelans.
Beaufort 98 def by Talbot 6/236
A spectacular 99 from Karl Gunther has steered Talbot into the semi-finals with a 138-run victory over Beaufort.
Dan Quixley had the Crows off to a flying start, dismissing Adam Williams and Lachlan Roche to have the Yabbies in immediate trouble at 2/3.
While they weren’t looking for trouble, Gunther and Jack Kenden came to the right place for Talbot, combining for a game-changing 140-run partnership.
Even after Kenden was removed for 76, Gunther continued the misery for the Crows alongside Jorde Bux, hitting 16 boundaries in a masterful innings which deserved to be rewarded with a century.
Ben Woolidge and Kody McDonnell fought hard to stem the tide for the hosts, grabbing two wickets each for their efforts alongside Quixley.
The Crows needed a near-perfect start to keep their finals chances alive, but the visitors were unrelenting, striking early to have Beaufort at 2/6.
Malcolm Woolley, Richard Stokes and Woolidge tried their best to get the run chase back on track, but Kenden (3/15 off seven overs) and Gunther (2/7 off five overs) continued to be the dynamic duo for Talbot, bowling the Yabbies to the finals.
Kaian Constable was the other multiple wicket-taker for Talbot, grabbing 2/16 from seven overs, while Woolidge top-scored for the Crows, making 24 with two fours.
MKM 1/79 def Clunes 76
MKM finished their season on a high with one of their best performances of the season, defeating the reigning premiers Clunes by nine wickets.
Tristan Tack and Muhammad Haseeb Khan tormented the Magpies’ top order, combining for the first five wickets to have Clunes teetering at 5/40.
Despite the best efforts of Thomas Hardy, who led the way with the bat scoring 26, Dylan Fox ripped through the tail to limit the Magpies to 76, ending up on remarkable figures of 3/2 from five overs.
After Noah Davies removed opener Jithin Aby Thomas for two, Khan and Jarrod Nedelkovski took control of the contest for MKM, scoring 42 and 30 respectively to get MKM over the line.
After Talbot’s victory against Beaufort, Clunes will take on Maryborough in the semi-final.
Maryborough 3/150 def Carisbrook 7/149
Maryborough has finished its preparations for the finals by defeating Carisbrook by seven wickets, thanks to Jason Hunt’s electric 87.
After finding themselves in a spot of bother at 3/38, Carisbrook managed to get themselves to a defendable total of 149 thanks to a fill-in player making 57 and William Coutts and Cooper Mark both scoring 25.
Liam Maffescioni caused considerable headaches for the Carisbrook batting lineup, with his consistent bowling rewarded with 3/6 from seven overs which included four maidens.
Maryborough openers Ben Hoban and Hunt got the run-chase off to a blazing start, scoring 79 runs in 12.5 overs before Hoban was removed by Mark for 23.
Despite losing his opening partner, Hunt continued to torment the visitors, ensuring the Owls were hooting in a victory with 87 runs from only 55 deliveries, smashing nine fours and three sixes.
Jarryd Coghlan was the other wicket-taker for Carisbrook along-side Mark, ending up with 2/30 from his five overs.
Colts Phelans 8/178 def Laanecoorie Dunolly 9/47
The Colts Phelans bowling lineup seems to be in tremendous form heading into the semi-finals, bowling Laanecoorie Dunolly for 47 on their way to a 131-run victory.
David Forde was the star for the Colts with the bat in his hand, with the game still in the balance at 2/30, Forde lit up Hedges Oval with a marvelous 88.
His efforts were assisted by Bayden Macintyre, with the pair combining for a 76-run partnership to get the Colts to 178.
Six bowlers grabbed a wicket for Laane, with Steven Dellavedova finishing with top figures of 2/22 from eight overs while Joshua Britten cleaned up the tail, collecting 2/25 from seven overs.
Kane Shepherd got the ball rolling for the Colts, dismissing openers Jayden McDonald and Paul Waddington to have Laane at 2/13.
Callum Liddicoat provided some resistance for Laane, top scoring with 21, but lethal bowling from Forde (2/6 off two overs) and Hunter Kurzke (2/7 off three overs) set the table for Laane to be bowled out for 47.
Semi-Finals
Fourteen rounds of the regular season come down to this — two tantalising semi-finals will decide who has the chance at ultimate glory, and who will be sent packing.
After finishing the season on top of the ladder, Maryborough will host Clunes at Princes Park for a shot at the grand final.
The Owls have had the Magpies number this season, bowling the reigning premiers for a season-low total of 34 in round nine and bowling them for 59 in round 13 in their two victories over Clunes this season.
After qualifying for the finals at Beaufort’s expense, Talbot will look to repeat last season’s grand final appearance when they face Colts Phelans.
Due to the Colts’ A grade side playing their semi-final against Beaufort at Hedges Oval, the two teams will meet at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve.
While the Colts defeated Talbot in round one off the back of an unbeaten 95 from A grade stalwart Max Jackson, the Yabbies responded with a nine-run victory in round nine thanks to a 4/12 performance from Gunther.