Sport
31 March, 2026
MDCA A Grade Grand Final — Best on Ground
Asim Akhtar capped off an astonishing season with Colts Phelans by winning A grade Grand Final Best on Ground after another spectacular all-round performance.
In his first season playing on Australian soil after arriving from the Marske Cricket Club in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League, Akhtar has been a one-man wrecking crew.
With 518 runs and 28 wickets, Akhtar entered the finals in the top five for runs scored and wickets taken.
Need anymore proof of his game-changing abilities? Look no further than when he took a six-wicket haul and scored a century on one day against Clunes in round 14.
“He’s been incredible for us. It’s handy that he does both bowling and batting and he’s really come into his own at the club, which has been great,” Colts captain Rhys Wagstaff said.
“It didn’t matter whether I bowled him at the front end or the back end. He did a job for us and he’s really fitted in with the playing group.”
While he wasn’t amongst the wickets, Akhtar was instrumental to the Colts bowling Laane out for 111, conceding just 13 runs from eight overs against a very dangerous top-order.
Reentering the game with the Colts in a precarious position at 2/35, Akhtar showed immaculate concentration as he and Liam Stubbings pushed the Colts towards the premiership.
Back-to-back fours off Will Chamings in the 40th over was the icing on the cake of a magnificent performance by Akhtar, scoring the winning runs six balls later to finish unbeaten on 27.
“It’s been an unbelievable season. My first experience in Australia and to be man of the match in the final is unbelievable,” Akhtar said after being presented with his Best on Ground medal.
Bowling to the likes of Tom Hannett, Tom Hart, Nafis Shaikh and Sam Bartlett, Akhtar said he strived to not allow that quartet to develop any sort of groove by consistently attacking their defence.
“They like to hit from the off. Anything wide, they’ll hit, so my plan was to keep it nice and tight on the stumps,” he said.
A concentrated and patient mindset was also Akhtar’s game plan with the bat, saying he was determined to be in the middle for the winning runs.
“My mindset was just bat all day. I wasn’t really bothered about the runs. If I just bat and no wickets are lost, then we’re going to win the game,” he said.