Sport
12 December, 2022
Colts win through to grand final after epic battle
In a topsy-turvy match of momentum, Colts Phelans won through to a grand final date with Laanecoorie Dunolly courtesy of a five-wicket victory over Maryborough. It was truly a game where both teams had control at different stages. Maryborough were...
In a topsy-turvy match of momentum, Colts Phelans won through to a grand final date with Laanecoorie Dunolly courtesy of a five-wicket victory over Maryborough.
It was truly a game where both teams had control at different stages. Maryborough were able to start strongly with both bat and ball, but Colts were able to hit back in both innings, and ultimately held out long enough to take victory with two overs to spare.
Maryborough won the toss and elected to bat, and were immediately under the pump when Ben Hoban was bowled by Nicholas Henderson for just two runs.
However, Mitch McClure, Sam Bartlett and Martin Dell were able to play strong hands in the early part of their innings. McClure would register his first 50 of the season, scoring a handy 61 before holing out to Rhys Egan off the bowling of Richard Clark, while Bartlett and Dell would suffer the same fate — both bowled on 31 from the bowling of Wayne Stubbings.
Indeed, it was Stubbings who changed the course of the game, with the wickets of Bartlett and Dell quickly followed by two more wickets, with Lachlan Morganti and Harry Lumsden the next to go.
Late hitting from Todd Doran and Jackson Goodwin would ensure that Maryborough would reach 8/177 off their 40 overs.
Stubbings was the star with the ball, taking 4/25 to ensure Colts would have a target to chase, while Matt Scott was another who bowled well, finishing with 2/31.
Colts looked to push the pace early when it was time to bat, with Callum Watts taking control of the early part of the innings. However, the Owls were able to hit back with two quick wickets. First, Watts was bowled by Bartlett for 15 runs, before Stubbings was likewise bowled for four runs to leave Colts in a precarious position at 2/31.
However, it was again left to Egan and Ed Foreman to steady the ship, just as they were able to the previous week against Clunes. A 62-run partnership followed, leaving Colts seemingly in a good position at 2/93.
Shortly afterwards though, Egan would depart, with a good catch from Bartlett leaving the game in the balance once again.
Ben Stubbings joined Foreman in the middle and looked to push the pace almost immediately, with a 30-run partnership punctuated by Foreman completing his first 50 of the season.
In another twist, however, Foreman was almost immediately removed, with Hoban taking his wicket caught and bowled.
Liam Tatchell was next to the crease, but in an attempt for quick runs, ran himself out with Colts still requiring 34 off the final six overs. Luckily, Matt Scott was up to the challenge, helping finish off the Owls’ one-day campaign with 18 quick runs to help guide Colts to a five-wicket win.
Ben Stubbings eventually finished with 32 runs, joining Wayne in proving to be an important factor in guiding Colts to the one-day final.
For the Owls, Hoban was their best bowler, taking 2/31 off his eight overs, while Bartlett was economical, finishing with 1/15 off eight overs, including three maidens.
