Cricket: Colts v Collie

Middle order holds up for plucky Colts

A cool, cloudy day and a hot bowling attack greeted the new season’s cricketers where reigning premiers Colts began the defence of their title at the Recreation Ground.

That defence got off to a winning start against Collie, with skipper Clayton Caltsounis and Dion Attard fashioning an 85-run sixth-wicket partnership to dig their team out of trouble for victory by one wicket.

Batting first, Collie was spearheaded by an undefeated half century from gun recruit and WA Country XI captain Rod Ford and 41 by youngster Liam Kinsella.

Together with a series of solid supporting knocks and a sloppy 29 sundries, the visiting Coalminers compiled 7-183 against a bowling attack that shared the wickets around with Colts’ Jack Wilson leading the charge with 2-29.

In answer a rattled Colts top order quickly lost regular run scorer Tyler Robertson before Cruize Ciallella, big gun Murray Goodwin, Kyle Davis and rookie Troy Lewis all fell in the space of 19 runs leaving Colts teetering on 5-66.

Rob Ford backed up his heroics in the middle with three of the first five wickets with Jebb Swallow and Michael Hogg also chipping in.

Then came the match-saving innings from middle order heavyweights Caltsounis and Attard, not for the first time digging their side out of trouble with strong 81-ball statement.

Both batsmen hit six boundaries apiece with Caltsounis top scoring with 45 and Attard not far behind on 42.

Ford dismissed Caltsounis for his fourth wicket of the game and Attard was bowled by Seth White leaving the lower order to tie up the loose ends, which it did successfully in the 43rd over courtesy of an important 15-run cameo from Wilson.

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