Sport
31 March, 2026
Colts Phelans defeats Laanecoorie Dunolly in controversial A grade Grand Final
After their drought-breaking premiership in 2025, Colts Phelans have staked their claim to become the next MDCA A grade dynasty, retaining their champions crown over Laanecoorie Dunolly with a contentious seven-wicket victory.
With stalwart seamer Nick Henderson setting the tone with three early breakthroughs, Ben Evans once again took over the Grand Final stage, taking four vital wickets to limit Laane to 111.
An Amar Ullah and Joel Lovel led bowling attack restored hopes of Laane’s sixth premiership in seven seasons, but a 69-run partnership from Liam Stubbings and Best on Ground Asim Akhtar allowed the Colts to repeat as champions.
Saturday’s triumph wasn’t without some controversy, with Colts stalwart Dayne Baker doing a “Mankad” runout on Laane’s Josh Fitzpatrick in one of the most shocking moments in MDCA history.
Throughout his innings, Fitzpatrick had routinely left his crease early at the non-strikers’ end before the ball had left the bowler’s hand, a common tactic by batters to gain an advantage running between the wickets.
After his team raised the backing-up issue to the Englishman, Colts captain Rhys Wagstaff said it was “necessary” for Baker to run out Fitzpatrick at the non-strikers’ end before he released his final ball of the 30th over.
While the action is completely legal under the Laws of Cricket, the rule is one of the most divisive in world sport, causing visible tension between the two sides throughout the Grand Final.
With overcast conditions greeting players on Saturday, the Colts won the toss and elected to bowl, giving Henderson and Akhtar the chance to make the most of a terrific Princes Park pitch early.
After Henderson ripped through Laane’s top order in round 15, Laane openers Tom Hannett and Tom Hart were determined to replicate their 99-run partnership in December’s one-day Grand Final against the Colts.
With neither team gaining an edge in the first six overs, it was Henderson who landed the first punch, getting Hart caught by Wagstaff for eight.
In his next over, Henderson added Laane’s fellow opener to his hit list, trapping Hannett with an LBW dismissal as the captain departed for five.
Determined to avoid a similar collapse that placed them 3/19 in their semi-final win over Beaufort, Nafis Shaikh and Sam Bartlett were forced to begin their partnership on the back foot as Henderson and Akhtar routinely produced maidens.
Kept on while Akhtar was replaced by Baker, Henderson rewarded the Colts with the wicket of the in-form Bartlett, who edged a ball to the waiting hands of Josh Collinson at slip.
With Bartlett’s dismissal for six bringing about the drinks break, the one-day premiers were in desperate need of a momentum-shifting partnership, sitting at 3/32.
While Henderson, Baker and Collinson continued to bowl superbly after the interval, Shaikh and Fitzpatrick looked as if they would be the pair to swing things around for Laane.
The duo found avenues to the boundary while simultaneously showcasing the necessary discipline Laane required.
Just as Laane looked to have wrestled themselves out of danger at 3/52, one moment would provide a dynamic change to the match.
Following a quick discussion with his captain, Baker completed a “Mankad” runout on Fitzpatrick, cutting a promising innings to an end at 14.
Fitzpatrick was visibly irate with his dismissal, storming off the field after a short yet heated argument with several Colts players.
The new partnership of Shaikh and Alex Cook steadied the ship by surviving to the tea break, but the Colts were well and truly on top, with Laane sitting at 4/55 after 37 overs.
Evans further cemented that dominant position two balls after the break, trapping Shaikh with an LBW dismissal, which saw him out for 14 after facing 95 deliveries.
With the untimely dismissal of their leading run-scorer, Laane’s aspirations of reaching a defendable total rested heavily on the left-right combo of Cook and Matt Smith.
Exclusively facing spinners Evans and Liam Stubbings. Cook and Smith built gradually by rotating the strike as Cook began to flourish under the pressure.
With two fours in five deliveries, Cook was beginning to place some pressure back on the Colts before he edged an Evans ball to Luke Tatchell behind the stumps for 28, ending the 38-run stand after 14 overs.
Liam Stubbings joined in the fun five overs later, getting the new man in Amar Ullah to be caught by Collinson at short cover for two.
Two balls later, the Colts were in dreamland after a direct hit ran out Smith for six after 58 balls and had Laane dangling at 8/96.
After Evans removed Will Chamings for a duck to open the 60th over, Lovel and Lachie Condie added some valuable runs before Lovel was bowled by Evans for 11, leaving Condie stranded on four as Laane was all out for 111.
While it would be unrealistic to expect him to replicate his 6/57 in last season’s Grand Final, Evans was just as impactful on Saturday, taking 4/32 to amplify Henderson’s 3/28 at the top of the innings.
Wagstaff and Wayne Stubbings were given 13 overs on the eve of Saturday to make their run chase slightly easier.
With Bartlett unable to bowl due to lingering injuries, Laane elected to allow Ullah to open the bowling alongside Fitzpatrick.
The left-arm spinner conjured the early wicket Laane desperately needed in just the second over, with Hart taking a great catch at slip to send Wagstaff packing for six.
Fielding at forward short leg, Fitzpatrick gave Wagstaff a hostile sendoff that needed to be separated by Smith and Hannett, setting the stage for a fiery end to day one.
Fantastic spells from Ullah and Lovel couldn’t stop Wayne Stubbings and Collinson from batting the day out, with the Colts starting Sunday on 1/33.
With a night to recover from his injuries, Bartlett came out firing on Sunday alongside Lovel, with the pair allowing just one run in their first 21 balls before Lovel dismissed Collinson thanks to a catch from wicketkeeper Condie.
Five overs later, Bartlett castled Wayne Stubbings for 23, getting Laane up and about with the Colts in a precarious position at 3/43.
Bartlett and Lovel continued to throw missiles down the Princes Park pitch, but the new partnership of Akhtar and Liam Stubbings survived the remainder of their spells unscathed.
The introduction of Ullah and Cook couldn’t turn around Laane’s fortunes, as Akhtar and Liam Stubbings began to accelerate towards the required target.
A 21-run burst in two overs put the Colts on the precipice before Akhtar hit the winning runs off Smith to clinch the premiership for the Colts.
Akhtar ended a Best on Ground performance with an unbeaten 27 alongside Liam Stubbings on 38 not out with six boundaries.
