The Corey McDean-led Chairman’s XI held their nerve to claim a thrilling victory in Sunday afternoon’s Western Zone Colts Carnival decider, downing a powerful Dubbo outfit by one run to secure the title, somewhat of a shock result for the composite side.
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Even McDean said he was certain no one expected the outfit – made up of players from Western’s smaller associations, who couldn’t field an under-18 team of their own – to make the final, let alone win it, and was naturally stoked with the win.
After the Chairman’s XI posted 179 their victory actually looked somewhat of a formality as Dubbo fell to 9-162 in reply but, by largely nicking and nudging, Dubbo’s last-wicket pair of Rhys Beauchamp and Mitch Ashford pushed their side to 178.
But with an unlikely one-wicket victory in sight Beauchamp was trapped in front by Hudson Hawke, who actually came on to replace Lachlan Rayner, who was no-balled out of the attack in the dying stages.
“It was pretty nerve-racking out there actually, they bat all the way down to 11 so it was never really over,” McDean said.
“We just needed to back ourselves in the end there and get the job done, which we did. It was good.
“I knew we were a team that, probably, weren’t really picked to win this competition. You know, a lot of us only met each other on Saturday.
“I think it was more about giving guys a crack at the Zone side so for a side in that position to win it, it’s probably one of the best efforts I’ve seen.”
The Chairman’s XI’s decider victory came after they downed Orange on Saturday, chasing down the Baby Bluebaggers’ 140 with two wickets and eight overs to spare.
McDean, who’s almost a certainty to be named the Zone side, was one of the Chairman’s XI’s best with the bat on Sunday, making 35.
Hamish Lelliott also made 35, while Rayner actually top-scored with 45 from number nine. His proved to be a crucial dig, considering he came to the crease with his side struggling at 7-113.
Dubbo made some headway early but wickets in bunches proved a telling factor and outside Jake Setree’s 50 just two bats made it past 20.
Although, Dubbo coach Trevor Thomas still wasn’t disappointed.
“Not at all, I was actually really impressed with the fight they showed,” he said.
“It could’ve been all over after Tommy Atlee was dismissed (to make it 4-78) and again after Jake got out (at 7-153), so to get so close was actually a great effort.”
Both McDean and Thomas said they’re certain a handful of their troops have put their hats firmly in the ring for Western selection too, with that side expected to be named in the next day or two.
With the likes of Dubbo’s Brock Larance and Henry Railz considered all but assured of selection despite not playing over the weekend, the competition for spots was red-hot over the weekend.
“Definitely, I think there’d be quite a few of the boys who may not have been on the radar that have put their hands up,” McDean said.
“I think there’s a few that have put their hands up, hopefully the selectors have seen them in a favourable light,” Thomas added.
The Country Colts Championship runs from December 17-20 at Narrabri.
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
