Sport
28 October, 2025
Colts win Grand Final rematch at Carisbrook
Reigning premiers Colts Phelans have successfully made it three wins from three to open their campaign with a six-wicket victory against Carisbrook.
Jack Gallimore and Nick Henderson set the stage for the Colts to repeat March’s Grand Final victory over Carisbrook, taking the first six wickets in a dominating performance with the ball.
Martin Mark and Cole Harris fought back for the hosts with the bat and ball respectively, but the damage was already done as Colts surpassed their opponents’ total in 16 overs.
Colts Phelans hoped to make some early inroads in Carisbrook’s top order after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.
The decision paid dividends quickly as Gallimore bowled opener Elliot Cullinan without the youngster troubling the scorers.
Following his 72 not out against Laanecoorie Dunolly the week prior, Jordan Hooper was promoted to three in the batting lineup, but even he couldn’t stop a Gallimore delivery from crashing into his stumps, bowled for six.
Gallimore wasn’t done knocking down castles, removing Brayden Wright in the same fashion for 12, landing Carisbrook in a perilous position at 3/24.
After a show of resistance from Carisbrook’s Dean Nalder and Harris, Nick Henderson was keen to show that anything Gallimore can do, he can do better.
Henderson started by trapping Nalder in front for an LBW dismissal, removing the all-rounder for 13 after he hit a four and a six.
The reliable seamer quickly added a second and third breakthrough by bowling Atticus Cullinan for a duck before claiming the wicket of Cole Harris for five, thanks to a catch by Tate Williams.
Carisbrook were in serious trouble after Henderson’s flourish at 6/44, desperately needing a solid partnership to get them into a winnable position.
Fortunately for the hosts, the father-son duo of Martin and Cooper Mark began to quell the stampeding Colts, protecting their wicket while hitting some impressive boundaries.
The partnership added a valuable 27 runs before Henderson caught Cooper Mark for six off a Ben Evans delivery.
Martin Mark soon followed Cooper back to the clubrooms thanks to an Asim Akhtar ball that was caught by Abdaar Ishaq, ending his innings at 23.
Despite some late boundaries from Axel Purcell, Evans and Akhtar made quick work of the tail, with Evans dismissing Brandon Carter for 10 with a catch by Gallimore and Akhtar ending the innings by removing Joshua Nalder for one, thanks to a catch by Josh Collinson.
Purcell finished not out on nine for Carisbrook.
A combined six wickets from Henderson (3/27) and Gallimore (3/31) put the Colts in a controlling position early. Evans and Akhtar were also dangerous throughout their spells, taking two wickets each.
With early boundaries from openers Evans and Ishaq, it looked like the Colts would make quick work of their target of 108.
Elliot and Atticus Cullinan had other ideas, getting Carisbrook up and about with Elliot removing Ishaq for four after a sharp catch from Martin Mark in the gully before Cooper Mark caught Evans for eight off the bowling of Atticus.
Finding themselves suddenly at 2/23, the Colts found themselves in the capable hands of Collinson and Tarkyn Balzan, the duo who guided the Colts to victory against Maryborough the week prior.
The partnership would get the Colts 40 runs away from the total before Cole Harris gave Carisbrook a lifeline by removing Balzan for 20 with the help of the catch from Carter.
Just as Carisbrook’s belief began to grow, Harris struck again by dismissing Collinson for 17, with Cooper Mark taking his second catch.
With some pressure placed back on the visitors, Akhtar smashed any concerns away with three fours and four sixes to power the Colts past Carisbrook’s total.
Akhtar’s entertaining innings ended with him unbeaten on 43, while Luke Patterson had a short cameo in his A grade debut, adding seven.
Harris was the pick of the bowlers for Carisbrook, taking 2/17 from three overs.