Sport
26 November, 2024
Beaufort close to consecutive one-day grand final berths with Lachlan Oddie in full flight
Beaufort have guaranteed themselves a shot of playing off for a one-day final spot thanks to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Clunes at Bull Millgate Oval.
The win is their second against the Magpies away from home this year, but this time, they had to chase down their target instead of defend it.
Regardless, the result means that the Crows now have two weeks to plot their best pathway to making a second consecutive one-day grand final, with their meeting against Colts Phelans at Hedges Oval in two weeks time set to decide who will be Laanecoorie Dunolly’s opponents.
Sensing a quick outfield and the opportunity for runs, Clunes elected to bat when they won the toss, and it was Brenton Jones and the in-form Anthony Ellis at the crease.
Joe Kingsbury struck first for the Crows, however, with Jones hitting a ball straight to Lachlan Oddie for one.
Through Ellis, the Magpies did start to motor, and quickly got themselves up to 49, but they would soon have to restart another partnership when Lucas Rais-Colvin was trapped for LBW by Kingsbury for five.
Eight runs later, Ellis was gone for a well-made 30, having looked remarkably settled, with Nick Stabbins taking a sharp catch off the bowling of Andrew Grant at first slip.
Clunes were batting at a brisk pace, but were also losing wickets regularly.
Mark Allen was next to fall, stumped by David Kiely off the bowling of Thomas Alexander for five, and it was suddenly 4/74.
Jude McGuire and Brendan Ingram had an extremely positive partnership that helped swell the score past 100, with Ingram in particular playing some aggressive shots, perfectly complimenting the positive nature of McGuire’s play.
That brought about a 49-run partnership, but McGuire’s dismissal on 39, bowled by Lachlan Oddie, exposed what was a reasonably long tail to the Crows bowlers.
Oddie had a second wicket after some early struggles, bowling Dylan Davies for two.
Ingram was a large factor in a 39-run partnership with Brad Stevenson, and brought up a well-deserved 50 in one of his best knocks.
But he was next to fall for 53, hitting an Alexander delivery straight into the waiting arms of Ben Grant.
Stevenson was Alexander’s third victim, with Kingsbury taking the catch, while Brett Coon was run out for three seeking runs on the last ball.
Troy Thomson was the sole man unbeaten on four.
Alexander has now moved to outright second on the wicket-taking list with his three-wicket haul, while Oddie and Kingsbury took two wickets apiece.
The target of 182 was a task, but one that Beaufort has been up to throughout the season so far.
Kriss Ellis made his return, and alongside Alexander, gave the Crows a terrific start with a 51-run stand.
Kriss was first to go, however, trapped in front for LBW by Coon, his seventh wicket of the season.
Not long after, Clunes had their first real look at victory, with Allen striking twice in quick succession.
First, he bowled Thomas Grant for six, before getting Alexander in a similar fashion.
However, it was Oddie, fresh off his unbeaten 60 against Colts, who continued to motor on with the bat this season, alongside Stabbins, who was also putting in a handy afternoon’s work.
Oddie was dominant, providing the bulk of the runs to help steer the Crows’ ship home in their 111-run partnership.
Twelve fours and a six featured in his innings, and his unbeaten 83 allowed him to move to third on the run-scoring charts — with the highest average in the competition to boot.
Stabbins, alongside him, did his job, providing an excellent anchor to Oddie’s heroics and finishing with a well-made 28, equalling his high score for the season in the process.
For Clunes, the loss keeps them on the bottom as they continue to seek their first win of the season.
Allen bowled particularly well to finish with 2/23 off eight overs, while Coon was the only other wicket-taker with 1/29 off 5.1 overs.
While the Crows have the week off next week, the Magpies face a key game against Carisbrook at Carisbrook in their quest to keep themselves in the frame for a top four spot.