Sport
1 February, 2024
Top four on the line for Brook and Crows
Beaufort and Carisbrook meet with a spot in the top four on the line at Goldfields Reserve. The two-day game has been a bit tougher on the Crows and the Brookers, but this is a big chance for both teams to get back on the winners list as the season...
Beaufort and Carisbrook meet with a spot in the top four on the line at Goldfields Reserve.
The two-day game has been a bit tougher on the Crows and the Brookers, but this is a big chance for both teams to get back on the winners list as the season heats up.
Both teams have run into the three teams who are in the hottest of hot form at the moment, with Beaufort having their hands full with Colts Phelans and Laanecoorie Dunolly over the last month, while Carisbrook have had to negotiate Colts and Clunes.
For Beaufort, two things cost them in their pursuit of ending Laane’s long winning run over the last two weeks.
The form of Laane’s Zach Graham, who scored 105 runs, was a major factor in their 111-run loss, but it was also their inability for the middle order to keep their wicket which also cost them any chance.
But with that comes a silver lining, which allowed the tail to wag a little bit.
Joe Kingsbury had his best knock with the bat so far this season, looking good value for his 50 runs and moving up to fourth on the Crows’ run charts with 123 runs, while Zachery Dally and Craig Grant also gave them some good runs late to take the Crows from 7/43 to all out for 127.
The form of Lachlan Oddie on day one, in a performance which has now launched him to the top of the wicket taking charts with 21, was also a positive, having taken 6/63.
Meantime, Carisbrook will be looking for an improved performance with the bat in their first innings this time around, after having two low scores with the bat to start their two-day campaign.
It appears the Brookers get better as the game goes on, with the ability to hold off their opposition from taking outright victories evident, so they are, at the very least, fighting to the end.
Last week, Dean Nalder put forward one of the best knocks of the year, scoring 102 to ensure Carisbrook would fight out the game, marking their first A grade century since Leigh Koop’s 111 in round 12 of the 2012/13 season against Beaufort.
That effort allowed him to move to second on the batting charts, and could conceivably lead by the end of the round, provided he scores 13 or more runs across the balance of the next fortnight.
Nalder was also impressive with the ball against Colts, taking three wickets to ensure he would lead both the batting and the bowling.
Another who impressed was Lucas Hurse, who had his best outing of the season, taking 3/26.
