Adelaide grade cricket round 12 match reports: East Torrens, Adelaide University set for victory
Jake Lehmann was in fine form but then sent the bails flying after his untimely dismissal, while an Adelaide Uni batsman broke a club record after being dropped on 61. That and more in this week’s grade cricket wrap.
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Adelaide University and Adelaide clashed in a top of the table fixture, East Torrens set up a shot at a crucial outright victory and there was an eight-wicket haul in a big weekend of Adelaide grade cricket.
Check out The Messenger’s reports from every match.
ADELAIDE UNI 6/330 ADELAIDE
There are few more costly things in Adelaide grade cricket than dropping Adelaide University’s gun batsman, Sam Kerber.
But that’s exactly what happened at University Oval on Saturday, with Adelaide’s Alex Eckland spilling the Blacks vice-captain on 61 as the home side kicked on to post 6/330 in perfect cricketing conditions.
Recording his fifth Adelaide grade cricket hundred for the summer – breaking a 99-year club record – and sailing past 800 runs for the summer, the left-hander coolly compiled 105, bringing up the ton with a hook shot down to the fine leg boundary.
Adelaide Uni gun bat Sam Kerber has broken a 99-year club record by posting his fifth century for the season with 105 v @AdelCricketClub pic.twitter.com/WSrx7NXpEn
— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron4) February 22, 2020
In a battle for top spot on the ladder, Cooper Luke (64) and Kyle Brazell (59) gave the Blacks the perfect start, combining for a 126-run opening partnership.
Kerber, who finished third in the Bradman Medal last year, broke a club record set in 1921-22 for the most hundreds in a first XI season.
The modest leftie said it was “surreal” to find out he’d surpassed Gilbert Edgar Jose, a doctor who served in World War 2 and died in the infamous Changi Prison.
“I’m sure sitting back later over a cold one (it’ll sink in),” said Kerber, who combined with Ben Ellis (64 not out) to put on 120 for the sixth wicket.
“I got pretty lucky early on.
“It was a tough chance to the keeper’s left.”
Kerber said he had worked on a few technical changes before the season to aid his balance at the crease.
“Nothing too major … probably a little bit more between the ears,” he said.
“Just allowing it to happen, rather than trying to force it.”
Playing Shield cricket remains the dream, but he’s focusing on the process for now.
“In the past I’ve got too caught up in setting goals,” he said.
“At the moment … I’m just trying to enjoy my cricket.”
PROSPECT 58 & 5/99 EAST TORRENS 2/173dec
A powerful batting performance from Jake Lehmann and two brothers dominating with the ball helped East Torrens all but secure its spot in the major round.
The Reds set themselves nicely for an outright result after rolling bottom side Prospect on Saturday.
Brothers Tate and Luke Robins ripped through the Pirates at Campbelltown Memorial Oval to skittle them for just 58.
Tate took a brilliant 5/7 from just six overs, while Luke snared 3/15.
Jake Lehmann then went to task, blasting 71 from 58 balls, but the Redbacks batsman was not happy when he was caught by Lachlan Cluse off the bowling of Will Daniel.
Lehmann swung his bat in frustration, inadvertently knocking the bails off in the process.
But East Torrens was in complete control with Henry Dall adding 53 for a 117-run opening partnership.
The Reds then declared on 2/173.
Prospect is 5/99 heading into day two this Saturday after Luke Robins took another 2/29 and Michael Cormack picked up 2/4.
East Torrens is fourth on the ladder, 35 points ahead of fifth-placed Southern District.
An outright victory would also propel the Reds into contention for a home semi-final.
KENSINGTON 8/347 GLENELG
A second-wicket stand of 186 between Kensington’s Jake Brown (80) and Josh Doyle (100) set up their side’s imposing 8/347 on day one of their grade cricket clash at home against Glenelg last Saturday.
Doyle blasted 14 boundaries and a six from his 179 balls, while Brown cracked eight boundaries and two sixes.
Skipper Elliot Opie, at number eight, also provided fireworks with an unbeaten 63 off 37 balls – smashing eight sixes without a four.
“Early in the day we didn’t feel like our run rate was quick enough,” Opie said.
“But we often speak about getting through tough sessions, which we did.
“Jakey (Brown) and Josh (Doyle) really set us up early and I was able to get onto a few later in the day.
“Our tail has done well at different times and we know that there is often quick runs to be made later in the day when the bowlers get a bit tired.
“But we still have to take 10 wickets next week.
“We could have Dan Worrall back from the Redbacks, so that will help, but we still have to produce.”
Victory for the Browns this Saturday would secure their place in the major round with a home final still in the mix.
STURT 284 WEST TORRENS 0/3
Last season’s leading wicket-taker Tim Oakley finally returned to form in emphatic fashion with an eight-wicket haul against Sturt at Price Memorial Oval.
The Eagles quick was superb with a career-high 8/73 from 23 overs.
Despite Oakley’s heroics, Sturt made 284 after looking shaky at 6/138.
Blues debutant Sam Woods, at No. 8, led the charge with 64, while Corey Kelly held the middle order together with 60.
Skipper Brad Davis made 37.
The Eagles will resume on 0/3 this Saturday with Bailey Capel and Tom Woolford at the crease.
TEA TREE GULLY 166 & 0/20 WOODVILLE 1/195dec
Woodville’s day-one effort against Tea Tree Gully has kept its hopes of making the finals alive.
The Peckers, led by a brilliant bowling return from Ben Turley with 6/58 and a stunning 124 from Jacob Dickman, skittled the Bulls for 166 in 43.4 overs.
They then grabbed the first-innings points when they declared at 1/195 off 42 overs.
Joe Gatting produced an outstanding 102 from 113 balls as his Tea Tree Gully teammates crumbled around him away against Woodville.
Gatting hit 10 fours and four sixes in the knock, which provided the bulk of the Bulls’ total.
Dickman, with 17 boundaries and three sixes and backed by opener Conor McInerney’s unbeaten 63, gave Woodville the vital points and kept alive its chances for a further 10 points for the outright this Saturday.
Woodville coach Peter Sleep said the side had played solidly in recent matches.
“I thought we were unlucky not to get the extra points against Glenelg after bowling really well,” Sleep said.
“We had to take the game on.
“Normally we would bat first, but we figured we could be better off by bowling first.
“The effort with the bat from Dickman was superb.’’
Woodville must win both its remaining games outright and rely on Kensington to lose both matches to make the finals.
PORT ADELAIDE 5/286 SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Southern District will need everything to go right for it when it chases Port Adelaide’s imposing 5/286 this Saturday.
Batting first at home, the Magpies looked comfortable with an opening stand of 80 before Trent Riddle grabbed the first of his three wickets by dismissing Liam Toovey for 52.
But the Stingrays had little joy from there, watching a stand of 120 runs for the second wicket before Lewis Hatchett struck to remove Damon Kerr for 67.
Austin Umpherston continued Southern’s woes, making 82 before he became Riddle’s second victim.
Riddle finished with 3/51 off 19 overs, while Hatchett and Ben Twohig were the other wicket takers.
Southern, in fifth place, still has a mathematical chance of making the finals.
But it must find a way of winning outright this Saturday and then following up with the same result against Woodville at home in the final round.
It then has to rely on Kensington not collecting any points from its current game (Glenelg) or away to Tea Tree Gully in the final home and away match.
WOMEN’S WRAP
Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington’s dominance continued on Sunday as she led West Torrens to another win, this time against Northern Districts.
For the second-straight week Wellington took 5/18 off seven overs in an eerie statistic.
It follows her previous week’s effort of 5/18 and 76 runs from 46 balls against Kensington.
Teammate Tahlia McGrath snared 4/8 as the Eagles skittled the Jets for 66 at Henley Grange Memorial Oval.
McGrath then topscored with 26 as West Torrens reached 4/69 to take the points.
It was a much higher-scoring and thrilling affair at Price Memorial Oval as Kensington posted 6/192 before Sturt chased it down on the last ball of the match.
Brooke Harris struck 58, Rhianna Peate made 42 and Stacey Oates added 40 as the Blues replied with 8/193 off 50 overs.
Sharni Tansell and Abbie Cawse were at the crease in the final over.
West Torrens remained top of the ladder, just ahead of second-placed Sturt with Northern and Kensington filling out the finals spots.
Bottom side Southern District had the bye.
THIS WEEK
■ Kensington v Glenelg – Parkinson Oval
■ Port Adelaide v Southern District – Port Reserve
■ Adelaide University v Adelaide – University Oval
■ East Torrens v Prospect – Campbelltown Memorial Oval
■ Woodville v Tea Tree Gully – Woodville Oval
■ Sturt v West Torrens – Price Memorial Oval
■ Northern Districts – bye