Sport
9 November, 2023
Local derby for Colts Phelans and Maryborough in one-day clash
Colts Phelans host Maryborough at Hedges Oval this week, with both teams looking to get on the board for their one-day campaigns. Both suffered defeat in their opening clash in round three, with Colts Phelans going down to Beaufort despite...
Colts Phelans host Maryborough at Hedges Oval this week, with both teams looking to get on the board for their one-day campaigns.
Both suffered defeat in their opening clash in round three, with Colts Phelans going down to Beaufort despite a memorable Rhys Wagstaff century, while Maryborough, after a bright start, were unable to sustain it against Laanecoorie Dunolly.
Colts have been warming into the season after three losses in their opening four games, and have recorded two strong wins in the last fortnight against Clunes and Carisbrook respectively.
In particular, it’s their bowling which is keeping their opponents on their toes, impressing by restricting the Brookers to just 114 runs last week.
Dave Robinson has started the season in exceptional form with both the bat and the ball, and is currently equal third among all wicket takers in the league, while also scoring the seventh-most runs, courtesy of another solid innings of 33 on Saturday.
Clunes were also boosted by the return of Rhys Egan last Saturday, and he played his part in ensuring Colts got the win, scoring 39 off just 23 deliveries.
Add in the consistency of Dayne Baker and Nick Henderson, and Colts have re-emerged as one of the big threats in the competition with the ball.
Maryborough will be hoping to put behind a winless T20 campaign and finally get on the board.
Last week was a struggle for the Owls, who could only make 77 against Clunes after losing their first four wickets for just 17 runs.
The young Owls outfit couldn’t contain the Magpies’ fast-bowling duo of Ash Gunn and Jaxon Smyth, who ran riot in the early stages of their innings, and while the Owls, themselves, had some early chances to make an impact to the Magpies’ top order, restricting them to 2/4, they were unable to take wickets at crucial times.
Still, the year so far has been defined by a number of younger players getting their opportunity.
Oliver Cassidy stepped up last weekend to provide some good moments, taking 2/16 off his four overs, which included the wickets of Mark Allen and Lachlan Morganti.
Jasper Trickey and Lachie Condie have also enjoyed some good moments on the field too — something that holds the Owls in good stead going forward.
The Owls will be desperate to get a start like their previous one-day game — one which saw the Owls make 85 runs for their first wicket, with Tom Hart leading the way with 63 runs.
In the two teams’ last meeting in round one, Colts Phelans defied five Trickey wickets to take a 39-run win, restricting the Owls to just 6/60 off their 20 overs.