Sport
3 March, 2026
Colts earn rare outright victory against Clunes
Another sensational bowling performance from Colts Phelans allowed the reigning premiers to record the first outright victory in A grade since January 27, 2024, bowling Clunes out for 80 to win by an innings and 90 runs.
Following in the footsteps of Asim Akhtar’s 6/15 in the first innings, Ben Evans conjured up memories of his man of the match performance in last season’s Grand Final with 6/23, the Colts third six-wicket haul in as many innings.
With day two delayed due to overnight storm causing an unsafe divot in the Hedges Oval pitch, the Colts elected to declare on 3/241, giving them as much time as possible to bowl the Magpies out after castling them for 71 in the first innings.
Similar to their great escape in a near-identical situation facing Carisbrook in round 13, Aidan Thompson was promoted to open the batting alongside Mark Allen.
The pairing showed some early promise, surviving the opening attacks of Nick Henderson and Dayne Baker.
Keen to make some early inroads, the hosts turned to Evans, who hadn’t bowled since the one-day Grand Final back in December for the Colts.
The sublime spinner showed no signs of finger rust, removing both openers with a nifty caught and bowled to dismiss a fast-starting Allen for 16 and getting Thompson to be caught by Henderson for 10.
While not as dire as the 2/5 pickle they found themselves in during the first innings, the pairing of Brett Coon and Ahmed Rehman once again found themselves in a tricky situation with the Magpies dangling at 2/31.
Once again, the duo rose to the occasion, providing some much-needed stability for Clunes before Evans struck again, this time getting the talented Rehman for five thanks to a well-taken stumping from Luke Tatchell.
Evans didn’t have to wait long for his fourth wicket, as the new man in, Daniel Fordham, hit a ball that was caught by Akhtar without troubling the scorers.
With the visitors now 4/57, the Colts were gunning for the maximum 12 points, setting extremely aggressive fields to give their bowlers every chance to take more wickets.
The main obstacle in their way was promising teenager Brett Coon, who was playing with a confidence and composure reminiscent of his half-century against the title holders back in round nine.
However, his promising knock was cut short when he feathered a Henderson delivery to Tatchell behind the stumps, gone for a well-made 25.
Evans added a misery compiler for Clunes shortly thereafter, completing a five-wicket haul by trapping Dylan Davies with an LBW dismissal for six.
As the Magpies attempted to keep themselves afloat at 6/71, the Colts pulled out the party tricks.
In the middle of a spell, Henderson switched his patented pace bowling for some uncharacteristic spin. The change netted him two wickets almost immediately.
Tarkyn Balzan showcased his fielding prowess by catching a Fred Penhall cut shot after he made four before Henderson bowled Charlie Erickson for a duck with a delivery that clipped the leg stump.
After Evans bamboozled Noah Davies into leaving a ball that crashed into his off-stump, ending his knock on five, Henderson finished the match in the 35th over when Paul Coon was caught by Baker for naught.
Evans and Henderson combined to collect all 10 of the Magpies’ wickets, with Evans finishing on 6/23 and four maidens from 13 overs and Henderson taking 4/25 from 11.1 overs.