Sport
24 March, 2026
Colts bowls their way to semi-final triumph
Vintage performances from veterans Wayne Stubbings and Dayne Baker have the Colts marching back to the Grand Final following a thrilling victory against cross-town rivals Maryborough.
A gripping opening day set the stage for a memorable semi-final as a Wayne Stubbings 50 and a late flourish from Ben Evans allowed the Colts to reach 178 after a star-making five-wicket haul from Owls youngster Oliver Cassidy.
With the game on the line, Baker served up a loaf of finals delight, bowling the Colts into the title decider with his 4/42, dooming Maryborough to elimination.
An intriguing Hedges Oval pitch welcomed the players on Saturday, with the hosts winning the toss and electing to send their throwback opening partnership of Rhys Wagstaff and Wayne Stubbings in to bat.
Despite not opening throughout the A grade regular season, Wayne Stubbings naturally relaxed back into the role, battling with Wagstaff while facing fiery opening spells from Cassidy and Elliot Ashburn.
With the Colts' openers surviving the early barrage, Maryborough injected more pace into their attack, with Martin Dell and Tate Williams asking serious questions.
After 21 overs, Dell finally wore Wagstaff down, as the Colts captain top-edged a pull shot that Jasper Trickey caught.
Looking to build on his team’s 47-run opening stand, Josh Collinson settled in quickly alongside Wayne Stubbings, maintaining a solid yet controlled rhythm for the Colts.
Despite the efforts of Dell, Williams, Trickey and Ben Hoban, the new partnership remained until the lunch break, with the Colts in great shape as they neared triple digits with only one wicket gone.
Determined not to let a chance at a premiership slip through their fingers, the Owls found a burst of energy after lunch, fueled when Cassidy cut down Collinson for 24 thanks to a Liam Radlof catch.
The interval ensured Cassidy and Ashburn were recharged for another prolonged spell, paying quick dividends when Ashburn bowled Wayne Stubbings three balls after he reached his 50.
With the foundations set at 3/106, the new partnership of Liam Stubbings and Asim Akhtar looked to build a skyscraping total and place the Colts in complete control.
However, Ashburn and Cassidy kept piling on the pressure, bubbling over when Liam Stubbings hit an Ashburn delivery straight to Dell after making eight.
With Maryborough hoping to capitalise on their newfound momentum, their star owlet Cassidy delivered a sensational burst.
In the 56th over, Cassidy got Tarkyn Balzan to be caught by wicketkeeper Troy Bursill for one, amplifying the Colts’ tailspin at 5/125.
Cassidy’s next over was even more destructive, bowling star all-rounder Akhtar for 12 before doing the same to Luke Tatchell two balls later.
The Colts attempted to grapple themselves away from a treacherous rut, but Cassidy wasn’t finished taking wickets, castling Nick Henderson for two.
In the space of nine overs, Ashburn and Cassidy changed the game entirely, with the reigning premiers in serious trouble at 8/130.
With 16 overs left on Saturday, Evans and Baker looked to deny Maryborough extra overs at the end of day one while adding some insurance runs for the Colts.
Even with Ashburn trapping Baker with an LBW dismissal for seven, the pair halted Maryborough’s advances, allowing Evans to accelerate late with two fours and a six.
Evans ended on 38 not out before Jack Gallimore was bowled by Hoban for two, ending day one with the Colts all out for 178.
With an astonishing 42 overs between them, Ashburn and Cassidy were instrumental in the Owls keeping the hosts to a reachable total. While Cassidy starred with figures of 5/40, Ashburn was just as crucial with his 3/35 and nine maidens.
As the game remained in the balance after Saturday’s resumption, Maryborough seemed to hold the slight advantage, with openers Radlof and Oliver Bennett scoring 17 without loss in the opening eight overs.
Then, Baker flipped the script again, capturing the big wicket of Bennett for 10 thanks to a catch from Tatchell behind the stumps.
Shortly thereafter, Henderson mounted even more pressure on Maryborough after bowling their talisman Hoban for three.
Two overs later, Akhtar started his spell with a wicket, sending Radlof back to the changerooms for 23 with an LBW dismissal.
After a promising start, the Owls were in serious trouble at 3/40, needing the left-handed combo of Dell and Mitch McClure to step up at a critical juncture.
A hero was about to deliver the decisive blow, but, for the second year running, it was Baker who came up clutch.
After his unforgettable 6/30 in last season’s semi-final against Beaufort, Baker was at it again on Sunday, getting McClure caught by Tatchell for six before removing Alex Burrow eight balls later, gone for a duck thanks to a Collinson catch.
Cassidy attempted to replicate his influence with the ball alongside Dell, but he was helpless to see Baker catch the edge of his bat, with the ball ending in Tatchell’s gloves.
Akhtar provided a misery complier for Maryborough five balls later, trapping Ashburn for an LBW dismissal as his golden duck placed the Owls in disarray at 7/62.
With his team still needing 117 runs, Dell looked to make the most of his time on strike, scoring 16 off Baker to end his mammoth 16-over spell and give the Owls some hope alongside a determined Trickey.
The youngster survived 27 balls before the arrival of Evans brought about his demise, bowled for one.
Dell suffered a similar fate three overs later, with his fine innings ended on 34 by Liam Stubbings and a quick stumping from Tatchell.
A quickfire tenth-wicket stand between Tate Williams and Troy Bursill brought about some nerves in the Colts camp, but an Akhtar runout of Williams for 13 ended the 32-run partnership and sealed the Colts 57-run victory.
The Colts might want to invest in mind-control technology that convinces Baker every game is a semi-final, with the stalwart seamer once again stepping up on the big occasion, taking 4/42.