Sport
14 November, 2022
Clunes takes victory in topsy-turvy match
CLUNES 7/146 def BEAUFORT 9/134 It was a tense finish at Bull Millgate Oval which saw Clunes recover from 6/60 to take a three-wicket victory over Beaufort in a topsy-turvy match. Indeed, there were different times throughout the afternoon where it...
CLUNES 7/146 def BEAUFORT 9/134
It was a tense finish at Bull Millgate Oval which saw Clunes recover from 6/60 to take a three-wicket victory over Beaufort in a topsy-turvy match.
Indeed, there were different times throughout the afternoon where it looked like Clunes had the ascendancy, and there were times when it looked like Beaufort were the team to beat. But in the end, it was Clunes who utilised the leadership of Aidan Thompson to get them the victory.
Beaufort batted first, but they were unable to get the perfect start when Nick Stabbins was bowled by Jaxon Smyth for one run.
Kriss Eliss and Blake Jantzen were tasked with getting the Crows back on track, and were able to get a 41-run partnership before Ellis (15) was caught by Thompson off the bowling of Riley Coppick.
It led to a mini-collapse for the Crows, as Jantzen was removed for 26 a short time later by Shehzad Muhammed, before Ben Woolidge and Nicholas Cushing were removed for ducks to leave them 5/54.
Lachlan Oddie and Richard Stokes were left to pick up the pieces for the Crows, and put on a 30-run partnership before Ashley Gunn turned the game on its head for Clunes, taking three wickets without conceding a run.
First, he removed the wicket of Stokes, bowled for 17, before trapping Ryan Day and Craig Grant lbw for ducks to leave Beaufort 8/85, and in desperate trouble.
However, the hitting of Oddie, who eventually fell for 36 off the bowling of Coppick, ensured that they would have a reasonable total to defend, making 9/134 off their 40 overs.
Gunn was the star with the ball, taking 3/12 off his eight overs, while Muhammad (2/21) and Coppick (2/35) also took multiple wickets.
In response, Beaufort were able to take the early wicket they craved when Brenton Jones was trapped lbw by Oddie, and removed for four runs.
Anthony Ellis and Mark Allen set about ensuring that Clunes were able to take control of the game, but their plans hit trouble when Allen was removed for eight off the bowling of Andrew Grant, who sparked the Crows.
Shortly after, Gunn was trapped in front for just six runs, before Jude McGuire (one) and Muhammad (two) were next to fall at the hands of Grant. When Ellis was run out by Woolidge for 28, Clunes were left on 6/60 with the game in the balance.
However, Thompson and Smyth were able to get to work, putting on a 42-run partnership to get the game back under control.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, with Grant taking his fourth wicket to get the wicket of Smyth for 22, but Noah Davies came to the crease to help finish off the job, with Clunes reaching their target with 61 balls to spare.
Thompson anchored the back end of Clunes’ innings, finishing on 27 not out, while Davies showed some impressive power hitting and poise in his 16 not out.
Grant was the pick of the bowlers for Beaufort, taking 4/18 off his six overs.
Clunes will now have the bye before hosting Maryborough in two weeks time, while Beaufort are scheduled to play twice in two days against Laanecoorie Dunolly and Colts Phelans in two weeks’ time.
