Sport
24 March, 2026
Colts Phelans vanquish MKM in gripping semi-final
After their premiership heartbreak in 2023 and 2025, Colts Phelans have earned another chance at A reserve glory with a semi-final triumph against nearby neighbours MKM.
Fresh off an exceptional bowling performance, Luke Patterson scored a game-winning 51 to allow the Colts to escape a major batting collapse and return to the Grand Final.
Facing the Mill’s explosive batting attack, Patterson and Ethan Chaplin did a remarkable job keeping their opponents quiet early, with MKM 1/12 after 12 overs, with Chaplin bowling Nathan Leist for four.
Chris Freeman and Sebastian Borg looked to get the Mill back on track with a 39-run partnership, but a double breakthrough from Riley Govan that dismissed Borg for 19 and the powerful Muhammad Haseeb Khan for a duck derailed their innings.
A sublime 52 from Freeman and a handy knock from Jithin Aby Thomas ensured the Mill recovered to a defendable total, but the Colts held the advantage heading into their run chase after holding their opponents to 7/119.
That advantage was tested almost immediately, as Khan got both Colts openers, Peter Egan and Nick Peart, to return to the Princes Park changerooms abruptly as the Colts stumbled to 2/17.
Things only got worse for last season’s runner-up when a Freeman three-wicket haul culminated in him trapping the in-form Aaron Balzan for an LBW duck and gave MKM a path to victory.
Finding themselves in a perilous position at 5/46 with an abundance of overs in hand, the pairing of Patterson and Daniel McGregor looked to steer the Colts to victory before McGregor’s knock abruptly ended on 17 thanks to Leist.
The Colts’ next partnership was very fruitful however, as Patterson and Hunter Kurzke managed the situation perfectly, en route to a semi-final clinching 55-run stand.
Patterson was awarded for his efforts with his second half-century of the season, while Kurzke’s vital knock finished on 18 not out.
Freeman and Khan gave the Mill a chance at victory with their bowling, taking 3/31 and 2/27 respectively.