Colts Cricketers Take On Bowen In T20

The Whitsunday Colts team battled it out against a mixed senior’s side in Bowen in late September in a heavily anticipated trial match.

Senior players, supporters and sponsors of the squad were out in force, wondering if the young Colts side could hold their own in the up-and-coming season of the seniors 20/20 competition.

Adorned in new uniforms, the side didn’t let the club and its sponsors down.

Batting first, the young-guns sent in their most experienced to set the tone: M.Pettierford (6) and D.Milne (4), who both won premierships in the seniors competition last season.

But they had to face the fierce S.Mcintosh (0-15), who streamed in from the northern end with a 30-knot breeze behind him.

After a bit of chin music to unsettle the batsmen, L.Blundell (4-31) reaped the rewards when he got the ball talking, and batsman walking, picking up M.Pettierford (6), C.Woodhouse (10), and J.Pini (2) in consecutive overs.

When D.Milne (4) fell to the off spin of D.Williams shortly after, the Colts were in trouble at 4/33.

B.Valmadre (17) got a start but threw his wicket away five balls before drinks break. B.Altmann (4) was next to fall and a direct hit from the outfield by evergreen M.Hope had C.Stroud (10) short of his crease and fingernails were disappearing quickly in the crowd.

Knowing Big Tom was striding to the middle was calming the nerves of players and supporters but the nerves were redlining when he departed with a second ball duck.

Tom was the fifth batsman stumped in the innings, and Colts were now reeling at 8/99.

W.Homewood (41) made a day of it with his man of the match performance with the willow, guiding the Colts to a defendable 9/128 with the help of N.Kleinert (12no) and R.Blain (1no).

Full of confidence, the senior side were looking to make short work of the young’uns total.

M.Valmadre (1) was first to have an early shower, and D.Williams (11) popped one back to one of the comeback kids this season: R.Blain(1/30).

Followed by S.Mcintosh (16), the seniors were 3/46 in the ninth.

M.Coventry had the bat blazing with an unbeaten 67, but with tight bowling and a constant flow of wickets - with C.Woodhouse (2/9), M.Pettiford (1/29), D.Milne (1/5), and C.Stroud (1/36), and some great pressure building bowling from N.Kleinert (0/17) in the dying stages - the Colts were able to hold their nerves for a hard fought two run win, leaving the seniors 6/126 from their 20 overs.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Valmadre

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