Sport
7 December, 2023
Clunes and Colts do battle
Clunes will need everything to go their way tomorrow to earn a spot in the one-day final, as they take on Colts Phelans at Hedges Oval. Not only will they need the weather to go right for them, with forecast rain threatening to can a third...
Clunes will need everything to go their way tomorrow to earn a spot in the one-day final, as they take on Colts Phelans at Hedges Oval.
Not only will they need the weather to go right for them, with forecast rain threatening to can a third consecutive game, but they’ll also need to defeat Colts Phelans by a big margin, before needing Maryborough to do the same to Beaufort.
It is quite a shame that rain has stopped two consecutive matches for the Magpies, particularly as we would have learned plenty more about where they sit in comparison to Beaufort two weeks ago.
However, such is the nature of the beast, expect the Magpies to come out firing tomorrow.
They will need to, after Colts Phelans were able to take victory in their T20 meeting in round five.
On that occasion, it was the bowling of the likes of Nick Henderson and Dave Robinson who were successful in nullifying Clunes’ top order early, before a good rescue mission from Magpies captain Mitch Coppick, who top scored with an unbeaten 54, helped guide them to 6/135.
In response, however, Robinson, Rhys Wagstaff and Dayne Baker all scored above 30 to help guide Colts home with just four balls to spare, scoring 3/136 as they were able to, at the time, keep their T20 hopes alive.
Clunes will be out to ensure that their top order fires on all cylinders tomorrow as they look to break through for big knocks.
The key theme is that many of their players have been able to get starts, but have been unable to go on with it.
Brenton Jones and Mark Allen have scored over 70 runs apiece this season, while Lachlan Morganti sits second on the charts for Clunes with 142 runs. All three will be looking to improve on that greatly tomorrow.
It’s a similar story for Colts, who will be looking for consistent top order partnerships much like their last meeting with Clunes to get over the line.
Wagstaff’s 201 runs leads the way, while Robinson (183), Luke Tatchell (111) and Baker (103) have also been around the runs this season.
However, it’s a battle of the frontline bowlers that looks set to thrill tomorrow, with both teams boasting terrific strike options.
Clunes have a terrific spread of bowling options — arguably one of the best in the competition.
In the fast bowling department, Ash Gunn, Noah Davies, Jaxon Smyth and Brett Coon have all delivered this season, combining for 29 wickets. All four bowlers have an average of 27 or below, with Gunn (13.8) and Coon (14.3) striking at regular intervals.
Colts’ numbers don’t quite tell the full story. The trio of Robinson, Baker and Henderson have bowled very well, that coming despite Colts conceding the most runs in the competition this season.
Baker and Robinson have taken eight wickets apiece, with Baker in particular one of the harder bowlers to score runs off in the competition, while Henderson has bowled better than an average of 33 suggests.