Ex-Emerging Redback Ben Bullimore out to prove his worth, Lloyd Pope stars with the ball
Star bowlers make their marks, a surprise packet is bowled out before lunch, while an ex-Emerging Redback bounces back. All that plus more in our grade cricket match reports.
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A former Emerging Redback squad member has bounced back from the disappointment of his axing with a century, one of Tea Tree Gully’s Englishmen recorded his third ton of this season, while Lloyd Pope destroyed Port’s batting line-up.
All that plus more in our wrap of grade cricket’s round seven.
GLENELG 8/339 EAST TORRENS
The bitterness of being cut from the Emerging Redbacks squad has been replaced with pure motivation, Glenelg batting star Ben Bullimore says.
He’s enjoyed a golden start to the summer – with the third-highest number of runs (456) in Adelaide grade cricket, at a tidy average of 76 – and squad exclusion has only fuelled his ambition.
“Obviously those things you want to be in,” Bullimore said, fresh after posting his second hundred for the summer, 104 against East Torrens, at Campbelltown Memorial Oval on Saturday.
“The message I got is that I’m around the mark still, just not making big enough scores like the hundreds.
“It’s been pleasing to make a couple already this year.”
Bullimore has embraced the positives of not playing cricket 24/7 as an Emerging Redbacks member, and a new physio job has complemented his revised approach.
“I think that balance is a bit better,” he said.
“I’m really relaxed on a Saturday rather than training all week and getting to a Saturday and being a bit fried.
“I think that change has been good.”
He’s also benefited from a winter spent with Derbyshire club Clifton, with 21 his lowest score across all three formats in season 2019/20.
And a new girlfriend may have also blessed him with a calmer head at the crease.
“I guess it’s taken a bit of stress out of my life,” he said, with a smile.
After losing three players to under-19 state duties – Liam Scott, Will Bowering and Josh Hoffmann – the Seahorses would have been delighted to make it to 8/339 against the Eastern Reds.
Opener Danny Irvine notched his second-highest total of the season with a solid 75, which included 11 fours and one six.
Harry Cunningham made it to stumps unbeaten on 35 and will resume at the crease this Saturday alongside Jack Pudney (17 not out).
SOUTHERN DISTRICT 52 & 2/119 ADELAIDE 209
A seven-wicket masterclass in less than 10 overs from Redback Cam Valente devastated Southern District at Glandore Oval on Saturday. Valente continued his stellar all-round form for the Buffalos, claiming 7/24 off 9.5 overs as the Stingrays were skittled for 52.
Ben Pengelley provided the perfect foil from the other end snaring 3/27.
Run machine Pengelley led the way with the bat, scoring 65, while Valente also chipped in with a handy 40.
Patrick Page fell short of a half century when he was caught on 47 as the Buffalos responded with 209.
Lewis Hatchett’s 15-over spell netted the entertaining figures of 7/80 before the Stingrays steadied with 2/119 in their second innings.
Southern District skipper Josh Barrett said his side showed character to fight back after a poor start.
“They (Adelaide) just bowled really well and we couldn’t do much about that,” Barrett said.
“But then we bowled really well and McCormack and Coxy who both are class players, did very well with the bat.
“This week the plan is to push towards an outright but we have to get to their score first and then see what happens.”
STURT 258 NORTHERN DISTRICTS 5/28
A pair of experienced Blues got the job done with the bat before a young debutant made an instant impact with the ball as Sturt set itself for a likely grade cricket victory against Northern Districts on Saturday.
All-rounder Max Parker made a stellar 108 on return from injury and Jacob Dick carved 68 from 77 balls to set Sturt up after it was sent into bat by the Jets at Price Memorial Oval.
The duo drove the Blues to 258 before they had 14 overs to bowl at the visitors prior to stumps and made the most of them, taking 5/28 to have Northern in all sorts of trouble.
Harrison Lemmey – a 15-year-old quick on his A grade debut – snared 2/17 and Daniel Clarke impressed with 3/9.
Lemmey removed Northern’s Mitch Thomas with the second ball of his first over and then trapped Callum Parkinson LBW on a duck two balls later.
The youngster then bowled Cooper Thompson with the final ball, which would made it 3/0 in the one over, but the wicket was chalked off because Lemmey knocked the bail off at the other end during his delivery, resulting in a no ball.
Sturt coach Ben Cameron praised the young bowler as well as Max Parker’s heroic efforts.
“For Max, it’s been almost a two-and-a-half to three-year plan to develop him into a first grade all-rounder,” Cameron said.
“He’s spent a lot of time in the B grade playing as a batter because he hasn’t been able to bowl.
“Yesterday was a great reward for him in terms of all the work he’s been putting into his batting and he’s been through some injury troubles as well.
“The side story is he batted with his brothers Angus and Charlie for close to two hours.
“The three brothers were six, seven and eight in the order and helped turn the momentum our way and worked their backsides off to get us back ahead of the game.”
Cameron said the key wicket of Northern playing coach Mark Cosgrove would dictate the result on day two this Saturday.
TEA TREE GULLY 5/349 ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY
Tea Tree Gully coach Matt Weaver praised Englishman Joe Gatting’s “unreal” performance with the bat on day one of his side’s grade cricket clash with Adelaide University on Saturday.
Gatting smashed an unbeaten 132 from 56 balls to help the Bulls be 5/349 at stumps at University Oval.
Fellow Englishman Darren Ironside finished with 85 and put Tea Tree Gully in a strong position to enter day two this Saturday.
“It was a really good day,” Weaver said.
“We rocked up and it was a pretty flat wicket so I think whoever batted first was in for a pretty good day.
“Joe Gatting was unreal again – made his third 100 for the season.
“(Ironside) has been good – he’s come over from the UK and he’s been a good addition for us.”
“A lot of our batters are going pretty well at the moment, which is good.”
Weaver was, however, calling for changes to be made at the end of this season, believing bowlers were finding it tough.
“I reckon something has to be done, maybe a ball change needs to happen next year because the wickets are far better than they have been in the past.
“The ball that we use doesn’t do anything for the bowlers, so I think something needs to be done at the end of the season.”
Adelaide University’s Sam Kerber was the pick of his side’s bowlers, snaring 2/68.
Ben Ellis (1/53), Bailey Wightman (1/75) and Cooper Luke (1/24) were the Blacks’ other wicket-takers.
Weaver said his side would more than likely bat for a few more overs this Saturday.
“They could probably have four players come back from the state side so we’ll just wait and see and that will probably dictate how long we bat for.”
PORT ADELAIDE 185 KENSINGTON 0/94
Port Adelaide coach Matthew Weeks says his young side is showing signs of development despite looking likely to lose its fifth consecutive match.
The Magpies were rolled on day one of their clash with Kensington for 185 at home on Saturday.
In reply, the Browns were cruising by stumps at 0/94.
Port’s sole win came in round one when it beat Prospect.
But Weeks remained positive about the side’s future and has been particularly impressed with 16-year-old quick Mackenzie Best.
“We’ve just got to tick off little boxes as we go and it’s probably about bigger-picture stuff for us at the moment as a team,” Weeks said.
“They need to be learning good lessons and habits and understanding what’s expected.
“We’ve got some good kids.
”Zac Worden is one and Mackenzie Best is only 16 but he didn’t look out of place on the weekend.
“He played against East Torrens earlier in the year and bowled really well.
“He’s run into East Torrens with (Jake) Lehmann and (Michael) Cranmer and then Kensington with (Jake) Brown and (Jon) Dalton so he’s had a pretty tough initiation but he’s going to be a pretty good kid.
“Obviously (Aussie) Umpherston as well – he’s a good player, too.”
The Magpies were 3/96 but failed to hang on as Kensington quick Dan Worrall inflicted most of the damage, snaring 5/24 off 16.5 overs.
Lloyd Pope also starred with 4/57 off 25 overs.
“We ran into a pretty good side and they obviously have a pretty good attack,” Weeks said.
“We were in trouble early but we fought really hard to get back into the game.
“At lunch … we were in a pretty good position and a position of power, we got the game back on our terms.
“But unfortunately we played a couple of shots which went outside of our plan and that got them back in the game, then Pope took charge and that was it.”
Port has struggled without star all-rounder Nick Benton – the side’s “heartbeat” according to Weeks, but the ex-Redback was expected to return from a broken foot after Christmas.
PROSPECT 9/414 WEST TORRENS
Prospect looks primed for its first win of the season after posting a sizeable 9/414 at home to West Torrens.
The Eagles’ gamble to send Prospect into bat did not pay off as the Pirates’ openers soaked up early balls.
West Torrens had Redbacks quick Kane Richardson available for the first day of the two day fixture, the visitors elected to bowl but were made to pay.
Prospect’s top order soaked up early balls when the wicket was at its liveliest before cashing in later in the day.
Pirates opener Izaac Boylan was the prime beneficiary with a stellar 166, which included 17 fours and two sixes.
West Torrens coach Mark Harrity said his side, 11th on the ladder with one win this season, faces a big challenge on day two this Saturday but was not out of the hunt.
“We took a gamble and chose to bowl because we had Kane Richardson available this week and Daniel Drew coming back next week,” Harrity said/
“It was a very flat wicket and a fast outfield and when you make a decision like we did you need to bowl very well.
“To be fair I think we did bowl well in that first session.
“They rode their luck a bit – there were balls flying everywhere, especially off Tim Oakley and Richo – but it didn’t fall out way.
“We lost our way after that.
“Funnily enough, I think we’re still in the game and could still win it.
“They’ve got to take 10 wickets.
“I expect us to make at least 300, if we can get there with wickets in the shed we can push for it and go for the win, otherwise we might have to shut up shop.”
Harrity praised the performance of spinner Josh Dascombe, who took 5/80 from 27 overs while conceding just four boundaries.
But he said allowing Prospect 10 sixes on the short boundary changed the game in a tough last session.
WOMEN’S WRAP
Kensington’s 232 proved too much for Sturt as the Blues were bowled out for 119 at Price Memorial Oval.
The Browns batted first and opener Sarah Lowe set the tone with 32 before Eliza Doddridge, batting at No. 3, topscored with 69.
Sturt’s Stacey Oates did plenty of damage with the ball (4/44) but the Blues batting order failed to back her up when sent in.
Brooke Harris (44) was best with the bat for Sturt but only two others – Rhianna Peate (22) and Oates (17) – managed to hit double figures.
Doddridge starred with the ball for Kensington, snaring 3/21.
West Torrens has made a hot start to its women’s one day campaign with back-to-back victories in the opening rounds.
A quickfire 34 runs from 38 balls by Emily Hinze and a stoic unbeaten 30 from 102 by Lucy Meyer led the Eagles to post 8/183 off their 50 overs batting first against Northern Districts at home on Sunday.
Hinze then starred with the ball as well, taking 4/34, as the Jets were all out for 140 in reply.
The Eagles have the bye next round before facing Sturt at Henley High School on Saturday, December 21 – the last round before the Christmas break.
Southern District, meanwhile, had the bye and will battle the Browns this Sunday before the Christmas break.
THIS WEEK - MEN’S DAY TWO
■ Port Adelaide v Kensington – Port Adelaide Reserve
■ Prospect v West Torrens – Prospect Oval
■ East Torrens v Glenelg – Campbelltown Memorial Oval
■ Sturt v Northern Districts – Price Memorial Oval
■ Adelaide v Southern District – Glandore Oval
■ Adelaide University v Tea Tree Gully – University Oval