Port Adelaide players smash their way into Adelaide Turf Cricket Association’s division three Twenty20 grand final for Grange
Could this be an omen Power fans? Port Adelaide’s T20 cricket side has made a grand final on the back of a huge performance from Travis Boak. Plus more in this week’s Thrash Talk local cricket wrap.
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Welcome to Thrash Talk, your weekly fix of all things quirky in Adelaide cricket.
Whether it is a big score, a terrible run chase, notable on and off-field stories or anything in between, Chris ‘Thrasher’ Farrant and the Messenger Community News sports team will bring you several titbits each Tuesday.
Got an interesting local cricket score or story?
Send any news, photos or videos to thrasher@iinet.net.au and matthew.turner1@news.com.au
Here is what caught our eye at the weekend:
THE ULTIMATE POWER PLAY
Could this be an omen Power fans?
September is still seven months away but a team of Port Adelaide players is already into a grand final.
Power players including Travis Boak, Ryan Burton, Riley Bonner and Dougal Howard have been pulling the pads on in Adelaide Turf club Grange’s C-grade side for the Tuesday night division three Twenty20 competition.
Boak belted seven sixes and five fours on his way to 87 last week to lead the Dolphins to a 63-run win over Old Ignatians in the semi-final.
The Port boys will now take on MSCC in the grand final at Grange Oval on February 26.
Their Grange side made 8/144 before bowling Old Ignatians out for 81, as seven players took wickets.
New recruits Burton (2/9) and Sam Mayes (2/11) led the way with the ball, while Boak, Bonner, Howard, Dan Houston and assistant coach Nathan Bassett picked up a wicket each.
The team, which has the blessing from Power coach Ken Hinkley, has gone unbeaten through the tournament and has featured a mix of present and past players and coaches.
“That excites me that they are together in a social setting,” Hinkley told The Advertiser in December.
“It’s important they do that away from footy as well.
“I love that.”
Former Power cult figure John Butcher, who most recently played for Central District, chipped in with 16 not out last Tuesday and Bassett made 13.
Bassett is also the leading run scorer in the division’s finals with 121 at 60.5.
His highest score was an unbeaten 69 in the first final.
Jack Watts, Tom Clurey, Brad Ebert, Jarrod Lienert, Kane Farrell and former player now Power employee Paul Stewart are among the other names to have had a hit for the side.
WAZEER’S KEY KNOCK
In an extraordinary one-man domination, Kenilworth’s Mohamed Wazeer took his side from certain defeat to a great position against Keswick in Adelaide & Suburban’s Section Six.
At 8/93, with no other player having made double figures, all looked lost, but Roochullah Agha (43 not out) supported Wazeer as he pounded an amazing 182 (16 fours, nine sixes) in a ninth-wicket stand of 167.
The total of 9/279 was one of the great rescues of the season so far and it has given the bowlers a chance.
LATE BURST FOR WEST
There was also a huge turnaround in Para Districts Grade One, as Salisbury West went from 5/103 to a mammoth 8/414.
Nicholas Kershaw, who brought up his first half-century of the season and went on to 152, led the way.
Parafield Gardens has some serious chasing to do.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
TWO ONE-MAN HANDS
It was a two-man shootout in Turf’s LO3 competition.
Panorama’s Matthew McCleary led the way with 139 not out from 123 balls (14 fours, seven sixes) to take his team to 5/240.
Asad Waseem then countered with 114 as a valiant Fulham fell just short at 8/230.
BACK IN THE HUTCH
Not a great day for Modbury in Turf’s B1.
Batting first against Brighton, Modbury managed just 34.
Allan Hutchinson (5/14 from 12 overs) and Torin Cooper (4/6 from six overs) did the damage.
Brighton was in an imposing position at 5/187 at stumps.
MCCARTHY THE STAR
Things were looking quite bleak for Pooraka in the Turf C2 clash against Brahma Lodge.
At 3/20, the day was in the hands of Mathew McCarthy, who had not passed 15 all season.
But, cometh the hour, cometh the (bats)man.
He peeled off 111 and carrying his side to 245.
GREAT SCOTT
In ASCA’s Section Eight, Fitzroy’s Scott Graham, playing just his second game for the season, made his mark with 107 not out (12 fours) to help deliver a huge 5/330.
But it wasn’t a one-man show, he was ably supported by Simon Longhurst, with 91 (13 fours, one four).
AN EASY DAY
Craigmore barely raised a sweat in thumping Para Vista Lutheran in their Para Districts LO2 clash.
Shaun Baker scorched 102 not out (10 fours) as only one wicket fell in setting a target of 1/236.
Para Vista never recovered from 5/27, collapsing to be all out for 94.
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