Sport
7 March, 2024
A reserve’s final round
Round 13 was a run-fest, with some brilliant individual performances lighting up the scoresheets as we head into the final round of the season. Beaufort 6/249 defeated Colts Phelans 3/248 Beaufort have now won three games in succession after...
Round 13 was a run-fest, with some brilliant individual performances lighting up the scoresheets as we head into the final round of the season.
Beaufort 6/249 defeated Colts Phelans 3/248
Beaufort have now won three games in succession after a dramatic outing against Colts Phelans which saw 497 runs scored.
The Crows won with two balls to spare in an incredibly dramatic game which saw plenty of brilliant individual performances.
Colts Phelans batted first, and it was David Forde who took all the acclaim, scoring the club’s second A reserve century of the season after Dean Walker’s earlier century against Carisbrook.
Forde scored an unbeaten 111 off 117 deliveries as Colts finished on 3/248 off their 40 overs.
The drama didn’t stop there, however, as Beaufort managed to make a game of it early, with Andrew Grant making 26 and Nick Cushing 30.
But it was the partnership between Kenneth Arch and Jack Smith which livened up the game, with Arch’s 66 and Smith’s 57 key to a 122-run partnership.
Zachery Dally’s 27 off 12 helped get the Crows home in the final over in a result which ended Colts’ finals chances.
Maryborough 117 defeated by Talbot 8/120
The lowest-scoring game of the round was still one which had a penchant for the dramatic, with a good finals preview.
Talbot snuck home by two wickets over Maryborough, who almost defended 117.
The Owls got off to a reasonable start, with Mitch Whelan and Lachlan Bursill combining for a 36-run partnership, but apart from Troy Bursill’s 47, no one else could score at will as the Owls were bowled out in the 33rd over.
Jag Searle, Jack Kenden and Jorde Bux took three wickets each as they did all the damage.
In response, the Yabbies were able to utilise good starts from Ryan Kenden (20) and Muzakkir Mohiuddin Mohammed (22) to look comfortable at the halfway point of the innings.
Maryborough had a good patch which saw them take six wickets for 49 runs, with Bradey Tranter taking two wickets and a run out, while Kris Bagley took two wickets.
But Talbot are the likely minor premier for a reason, and they were able to regroup with just two wickets left, and thanks to Bux’s unbeaten 29, they were able to take a momentous victory.
Natte Yallock 1/254 defeated Carisbrook 6/159
Trent Mortlock put together the best batting innings seen in the league this season as Natte Yallock booked their finals spot with a 95-run victory.
Mortlock’s unbeaten 133 was the new highest mark of the season, taking over from Clunes’ Aidan Thompson’s 124 against Beaufort earlier in the A reserve campaign.
It was a special moment for Mortlock, which was his highest score in cricket, as well as his fifth century, and first since round 12 of the 2021/22 season. It also means he takes over at the top as the league’s leading runscorer, with 278 runs for the season.
He also brought up his century with brother Zac at the crease, who himself scored 61 as the Swans scored 1/254 off their 40 overs.
Carisbrook, to their credit, had a good crack at things, especially with Brian Knight scoring 57 runs, but they were unable to trouble the Swans’ big total, falling 95 runs short.
Clunes 5/217 defeated MKM 64
Clunes firmed for a top-two spot, defeating MKM by 153 runs.
Clunes batted first, and after somewhat of a slow start, losing two quick wickets, Todd Featherston and Rajitha Perera put together a 120-run partnership to give the Magpies the advantage.
Featherston eventually went out for 59, while Dylan Davies also scored 27 to get the Magpies past 200.
But Perera took all the accolades for his excellent unbeaten 78, as the Magpies finished on 5/217 off their 40 overs.
Kushal Khamar was the best bowler for the Mill, taking 2/37.
In response, the Mill weren’t able to get a set partnership, losing too many wickets in quick succession as they were bowled out for 64.
Only Bradley Reeves (25), Jithin Aby Thomas (14) and David Coomber (11) were able to score above double figures.
All five bowlers Clunes used took wickets, with Brett Coon leading the way by taking 3/12, Brad Stevenson 2/14, Daniel Burnett 2/15 and Davies 2/18.
Round 14
With all four finals spots locked in, the order of the top four is yet to be resolved going into the last round of the season.
Talbot will be minor premiers if they can beat MKM at Ron Sinclair/Mr Mobility Oval.
The Yabbies were successful earlier in the season against the Mill, who need to win by enough and hope that Carisbrook lose to avoid the wooden spoon.
Second and third will be on the line as Maryborough takes on Clunes at Princes Park.
A win for the Magpies, coupled with a loss to Talbot, would mean that Clunes pinches the minor premiership on the final day, but a sufficiently-sized loss to the Owls could see them miss out on a home final altogether.
Natte Yallock will be hoping Clunes gets the job done, coupled with a win against Beaufort at Buangor Recreation Reserve, to potentially pinch third position.
The Crows have their tails up however, having won their past three games in an excellent finish to the season, and will be looking for more success.
Carisbrook and Colts Phelans will be finishing their season with a clash at Jubilee Oval, with both teams looking for a winning finish to their campaign.