Sport
11 November, 2025
Colts excel in six-wicket victory over Carisbrook
Despite a strong showing from Carisbrook, a complete team performance from Colts Phelans has steered the reigning premiers past their required target of 144.
With the trio of William Coutts, Martin Mark and Brayden Wright getting Carisbrook’s innings off to a solid start, the Colts bowling attack was fantastic in restricting the run rate throughout the innings and ensuring their opponents couldn’t accelerate late.
That allowed entertaining knocks from Rhys Egan and Abdaar Ishaq to surpass Carisbrook’s total with 11 overs in hand to record their fourth win of the season.
Still full of confidence from their thrilling four-run victory against Clunes on Sunday, Carisbrook elected for a fresh opening partnership of Coutts and Mark who have been in fine touch this season.
With runs hard to come by against the bowling of Nick Henderson, Jack Gallimore and Asim Akhtar, Mark and Coutts were forced to be patient, but eventually generated some momentum for the visitors.
Carisbrook’s momentum hit a stumbling block when Akhtar knocked Mark’s castle for 24, ending the opening partnership at 58 runs.
Despite the setback, Coutts and the new man in, Wright, kept Carisbrook in control of their innings, steadily increasing the run rate after the drinks break with some clever running between the wickets.
In their bid to bring the fight to the Colts’ profundity attack, Coutts was caught out of his crease on a Ben Evans delivery, allowing Egan to stump Coutts to end a hard-fought innings at 38.
Wright quickly followed Coutts back to the pavilion after he hit a Dayne Baker ball into the waiting arms of Akhtar, removing him for 24.
With Carisbrook now at 3/96, Dean Nalder entered the middle to join Jordan Hooper, looking to replicate his 53 off 35 balls in Carisbrook’s win over Clunes.
However, the Colts restricted Nalder from cutting loose with their tight bowling and ability to regularly remove his partners from the crease.
Josh Collinson converted a tough caught and bowled opportunity to dismiss Hooper for four before adding a second when Atticus Cullinan was caught by Rhys Wagstaff for six.
Baker kept the pressure on Carisbrook by claiming the wicket of Angus Morrison for a duck with a catch from Hunter Kurzke and bowling Leigh Koop for three.
Nalder ended the innings unbeaten on 32 alongside Cooper Mark who added two, as Carisbrook finished their 40 overs on 7/144.
Baker claimed his 200th A grade wicket with his 3/24 anchoring a well rounded Colts bowling performance.
Similar to Carisbrook, the Colts elected to experiment with their top-order, with Egan and Rhys Wagstaff opening their run chase.
The duo proved to be fruitful, with Egan challenging Carisbrook’s opening pair of Cullinan and Cooper Mark with seven quick boundaries.
Looking for a change in fortune, Carisbrook elected to make a bowling change with Nalder entering the attack.
The decision paid dividends immediately, as Nalder ended Egan’s innings for 45 with a caught and bowled and then took the wicket of fellow opener Wagstaff, who was bowled for eight.
After cruising at 0/51, the Colts were in a spot of bother at 2/66, with the new partnership of Collinson and Ishaq determined to keep the hosts in front.
The duo added 31 runs to the total before Collinson was caught by Koop off the bowling of Axel Purcell after scoring 20.
Akhtar brought the Colts to the precipice of the total with his typically hard-hitting style, but went for one shot too many as Purcell won the battle when Akhtar was caught by Morrison for 19.
Ishaq and Evans made no mistake from there, leading the Colts to a six-wicket victory with Ishaq unbeaten on 33 while Evans scored nine.
Nalder was the pick of the bowlers for Carisbrook with 2/19 from eight overs, while rising star Purcell showed great determination and resolve to earn his two wickets.
