Sport
17 March, 2026
Bulls deny Carisbrook of finals despite Wright 102
Despite an outstanding effort from Carisbrook headlined by a captivating century from Brayden Wright, they couldn’t reach the Mount Beaufort summit, as the Bulls waved the red flag on Carisbrook’s finals dreams with a 25-run triumph.
Two quick wickets from Jayden Scotland added an extra injection to Beaufort’s virtually secured finals spot after hitting 255 on day one, while Brandon Walsh, Lachlan Oddie and Jarrod Blandford spun Carisbrook to elimination, ending a promising campaign for last season’s runner-up in agony.
As for the Bulls, they will play ladder-leaders Laanecoorie Dunolly in the semi-final, a team they recently lost to by 127 runs in round 14.
With Carisbrook needing an outright victory to slip into the top four on the final day of the home and away season, openers William Coutts and Elliot Cullinan knew they had very little time to settle into their knocks, with their team needing runs and fast.
However, the only thing coming fast was Scotland wickets, with the Bulls’ quick getting Elliot Cullinan to be caught by Charlie Dyer for naught in just the third over.
Things only got worse for the hosts one ball later, as Scotland found himself on a hat-trick after the new man in Jordan Hooper was gone first ball, courtesy of an Oddie catch.
While unable to complete the hat-trick, Scotland’s double treat exacerbated Beaufort’s dominant position, with Coutts and Atticus Cullinan now needing to keep Carisbrook out of unsavable danger before attempting to accelerate again.
Yet the new partnership was unable to get off the ground before Joel Pymer bowled Atticus Cullinan for the third straight duck of the innings, as Carisbrook’s finals chances looked to be curtains at 3/12.
Despite their team’s tumultuous start, captain Coutts and club legend Dean Nalder began to bring some life into Carisbrook’s run chase.
With Nalder’s boundary making and Coutts’ quick feet between the wickets, the duo brought the hosts back to 3/61 after 20 overs.
In the next over, Walsh delivered a decisive strike for Beaufort, getting the better of his captain compatriot Coutts for 23 thanks to an excellent stumping from Nick Stabbins.
After recently impressing in Carisbrook’s run chase against Maryborough, Axel Purcell was promoted up the batting line-up, hoping to provide a spark alongside Nalder.
However, Walsh extinguished that spark rather quickly, removing the youngster for two to place Carisbrook in precarious trouble at 5/74 after 25 overs.
That brought Wright to the crease, who delivered a statement of intent by smacking a boundary on his third delivery.
That began a trend for Carisbrook, as Wright and Nalder scored a boundary in eight consecutive overs, helping Nalder bring up his fifty before he hit an Oddie delivery to Nicholas Broad, with the catch ending a fine innings that included 10 fours on 55.
Blandford got amongst the wickets five overs later, getting Angus Morrison to be caught by Pymer for two before removing Cole Harris for naught three balls later, thanks to a catch by Lyle Aichroth.
The new man in Martin Mark put up a fight, but he became Blandford’s third wicket when he was caught by Walsh for naught.
With his team’s finals chances shattered at 9/150, Wright proceeded to throw caution to the wind alongside Chris Lee.
The freedom clearly excited Wright, producing some mammoth overs, including 17 off Blandford and 13 against Walsh.
Lee was playing his part supporting the scorching hot Wright, scoring several boundaries as part of an electrifying 10th wicket stand.
After bringing up a marvellous century with his 13th four to conclude the 53rd over, Wright’s innings finally came to an end with the first ball of the 55th over, bowled by Scotland for 102 from just 100 balls.
Lee finished unbeaten on 19 for Carisbrook while Scotland and Blandford bookended a finals clinching bowling performance from Beaufort, taking 3/33 and 3/25 respectively.