Joe Mennie takes six wickets as Adelaide University rolls Prospect for 62 in Adelaide grade cricket
A Redbacks quick’s six-wicket haul and a mature knock from one of SA’s best young batsmen were the highlights on the weekend as Adelaide grade cricket approaches crunch time.
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It is crunch time in Adelaide grade cricket with just three rounds remaining and some matches could spell the end of a team’s season.
A Redbacks quick’s six-wicket haul and a young batsman’s mature knock are among the highlights from day one of round 11’s two-day clashes.
Check out The Messenger’s reports from every game.
PROSPECT 62 & 2/65 ADELAIDE UNI 2/136dec
A dominant six wickets from Adelaide University’s Joe Mennie on day one helped skittle Prospect for 62 and set up a possible outright win for his side at Prospect Oval in their grade cricket clash on Saturday.
Mennie hit the top order hard and then followed up his good work to grab 6/16 off nine overs.
Ross Richardson was the only Pirates’ scorer of note with 34.
In reply, Uni cruised to 2/136 and declared, with Will Bosisto unbeaten on 50 and Jake Weatherald making 44.
Batting again, Prospect was 2/65, with Richardson enjoying a solid day, unbeaten on 32.
Uni coach Ben Hilliard said his side had plenty of stars, led by Mennie.
“Joe is a class player, as we know. Five of his wickets hit the top of off stump, but the other bowlers did their bit to keep the pressure on,” Hilliard said.
“The comp is very tight, so if we have a chance to go for an outright we have to go for it.
“We may lose some players to the Redbacks next week, but if we do we will adjust.”
The Blacks are equal second with East Torrens on the ladder, while an outright loss would rub salt further into bottom-placed Prospect’s wounds after a tough season.
KENSINGTON 302 NORTHERN DISTRICTS 2/8
Young Kensington batsman Sam Rahaley showed experience beyond his years to hold the innings together against Northern Districts.
With more seasoned Browns falling around him, the 17-year-old rising star carved out an impressive 96 runs as they posted 302 at Salisbury Oval.
Kensington, which is holding onto a top-four spot, took late wickets through skipper Elliot Opie and David Grant to have the Jets 2/8 at stumps on day one.
Openers Henry Hunt and John Dalton put on 35 together before the latter was caught after a quickfire 25.
Josh Doyle and Jake Brown were then removed for one and two runs to have the Browns at 3/46 and Hunt appeared to be running out of partners, until Rahaley came to the crease.
The pair put on 89 for the fourth wicket before Hunt was out on 77.
Kensington lost their next three for 61 runs, but Rahaley continued to plug away until he was eventually caught off Cameron Williams after four-and-a-half hours at the crease.
GLENELG 229 WOODVILLE 1/40
Woodville all-rounders Ben Turley and Tom Andrews took all 10 wickets as their side set itself for a shot at victory in a do-or-die encounter with Glenelg.
Turley snared 5/47 and Andrews finished the rest with 5/69 as the eighth-placed Peckers held the hosts to 229 at Glenelg Oval.
Woodville is 1/40 in reply heading into day two this Saturday after Harry Nielsen was caught and bowled on 25 by Redback Chadd Sayers late in the day.
Glenelg coach Grant Francis said the match was a must-win and his bowlers now needed to work extra hard to stop Woodville.
All-rounder Liam Scott will return for day two representing Australia at the under-19 World Cup, but Sayers will miss due to Shield duties.
“We had a really good start,” Francis said.
“(But) losing those two wickets probably lost a bit of momentum from a batting point of view.
“This game is really important for us to win and will go a long way to putting pressure on the fourth-placed side.”
Both sides need to win to have any chance of making finals with three rounds remaining.
The Seahorses are 30 points behind fourth-placed Kensington and the Peckers are a further five points back.
TEA TREE GULLY 334 PORT ADELAIDE 0/48
Tea Tree Gully captain/coach Matt Weaver came to his side’s rescue along with all-rounder Adam Somerfield in a must-win encounter with Port Adelaide.
The Bulls entered the two-day match needing victory in each of their last three fixtures to have any hope of making finals and looked on the ropes on 6/109 at Pertaringa Oval.
Australian Test vice-captain Travis Head was bowled on 11 by Port’s Alex Garlick (5/90), who ripped through the Bulls’ middle order.
But it did not matter as Weaver smashed a brilliant 113 from 138 balls and Somerfield added 98 in a monster 210-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Tim Davey, batting at No. 6, added 54.
TTG finished on 334 with Port 0/48 at stumps heading into day two.
“We were in a bit of strife early, we lost a few wickets and the wicket was undercover Thursday and Friday, so (it) probably didn’t play the way it normally does,” Weaver said.
“It was a bit of a challenge and hard going for the batters early.
“Adam batted awesome and deserved a hundred.
“He fell two short in the end and that was probably the only mistake he made the whole innings.”
SOUTHERN DISTRICT 8/237 STURT
A late-order fightback from Southern District has kept alive its hopes of beating Sturt at Bice Oval – also keeping the Stingrays in the hunt for finals.
After being sent in to bat, Southern was in trouble at 6/93 and looked likely to be bowling by the day’s end.
But a spirited fightback from Matthew Sugg (31), Sunam Gautam (51) and an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand of 66 between Lewis Hatchett (23 not out) and Huw Stone (46 not out) helped the Stingrays to a battling 8/237, giving Southern impetus for this Saturday.
Sturt’s Dylan Clarke (3/51), Eddie Verco (2/45) and Charlie Parker (2/65) restricted each of the hosts’ bats from pushing onto a big score, so far.
Captain Josh Barrett said the lower order was terrific.
“They all played really well and helped build that score,” Barrett said.
“It wasn’t a great morning session after being sent in and at 6/100 odd we looked in real trouble.
“But we can build on that finish. As far as finals are concerned we just have to keep winning, starting with this week and see where it takes us.’’
Southern is sixth on 90 points, equal with Glenelg, but 30 points behind fourth team Kensington.
EAST TORRENS 8/352 WEST TORRENS
Runs were the order of the day for East Torrens as almost every batsman chipped in against West Torrens at Henley Grange Memorial Oval.
Skipper Michael Cranmer led the way with 82, including nine fours, as the Reds posted 8/352 on day one.
Ryan King (79), Lewis Evans (47), Henry Dall (41), Ian Cockbain (37 off 27), Michael Cormack (21 not out) and Tom Lace (18) all made an impact on the scorecard.
Luke Robins was the only Red not to make double figures after he was removed for a four-ball duck.
The Eagles were unable to tie their hosts down for long periods and used seven different bowlers, Josh Dascombe doing the most damage with 3/82.
WOMEN’S WRAP
Southern District won its first game in the women’s one-day competition when it accounted for West Torrens at Henley High School on Sunday.
Batting first the Stingrays made 173 from 43 overs and then knocked over the Eagles for 151. Kylie Rattray, at No. 9, chalked up an unbeaten 34 with seven boundaries, while playing coach Hannah Sampson made 26.
Kelly Armstrong was best of the Southern bowlers with 3/25 off 10 overs.
Top side Northern Districts continued its strong campaign, this time accounting for Kensington at Parkinson Oval.
Kasey Wendland (27), Sam Betts (22) and Tegan McPharlin (21) were among the contributors as the Jets posted 161.
Shania McKinnon starred with the ball for the Browns, snaring 5/24 off six overs.
Kensington put up a decent fight early but faded late in the innings to finish on 135.
Betts (3/28) and Taylah Gregory (3/22) bowled well for Northern.
THIS WEEK (day two)
Saturday, February 15
■ West Torrens v East Torrens – Henley Grange Memorial Oval
■ Northern Districts v Kensington – Salisbury Oval
■ Glenelg v Woodville – Glenelg Oval
■ Tea Tree Gully v Port Adelaide – Pertaringa Oval
■ Southern District v Sturt – Bice Oval
■ Prospect v Adelaide University – Prospect Oval
■ Adelaide – bye