CRICKET: Marist v Colts

Colts give Marist the blues

Traditional rivals Marist and Colts met on Saturday in a match which promised much, but the Blues failed to deliver as they went down by 41 runs at the Recreation Ground.

Things looked promising early for the Blues when they had Colts reeling at 7-123, but an unbeaten low order partnership between Josh Topliss and Joe Barningham inflated the score to 182.

Marist's English imports Chris Laker (2-25) and Michael Pritchard (2-35) gave the Blues the advantage early and confidence was high when Sam Roots caught Colts' captain Murray Goodwin for just 25 off the bowling of Laker.

Colts wickets fell steadily to Pritchard and Laker, with Middleton anchoring the Colts innings, while Davis was brilliantly caught and bowled by Laker.

With the chase still in sight Marist were confident of a win, but then came Topliss with the ball. Topliss took to the Blues batsmen with a vengeance for his first five-wicket bag of the season, ripping out openers Laker and Paul Reynolds, middle order man Roots and tail-enders Ben Shipley and Michael Pritchard for a fine 5-9 off 8.4 overs.

It was the young guns catching the eye again with 16-year-old Stan Hunwick putting up a steady knock of 31 to provide top score for the Blues backed by Roots, Adam Spinelli and Mat Anderson.

But Topliss in tandem with Billy McGowan (2-27) and Barningham (1-34) gave Colts a solid 41-run victory and close the gap on BDCA leaders Hay Park.