Redback Cam Valente continues strong grade cricket form, leading Adelaide to victory over Northern
A strong performance from a Redbacks all-rounder helped Buffalos surge to the top of the grade cricket ladder. Check out all the match reports from the weekend.
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Adelaide remains top thanks largely to in-form Redback Cam Valente, the Browns suffered a second consecutive loss – this week to Adelaide University – while English batsman Joe Gatting led Tea Tree Gully to a win.
Check out who did well with bat and ball and what the captains/coaches said about their round five games.
ADELAIDE 2/320 NORTHERN DISTRICT 171
A fine all-round performance from Redback Cam Valente has helped Adelaide wallop Northern Districts at Salisbury Oval on Saturday and shore up top spot.
In perfect conditions, Valente, who has yet to be dismissed after five rounds of Adelaide grade cricket, took five wickets and provided the cream on the cake (51 not out) as the Buffalos posted a mammoth 2/320.
With former Australian representative Mark Cosgrove batting at 11 due to illness, the home side was never in the hunt.
Valente modestly described his 38-ball knock as a few “cheapies at the end” as Ben Pengelley (104) and Patrick Page Junior (111* off 112 rocks) set the launching pad.
The 25-year-old said two months working on his defence against the swinging ball at English club Copdock & Old Ipswichian over the off season had helped him post 275 runs without being dismissed.
“I’ve really worked on my batting the last few years. It hasn’t quite worked yet at the next level, I’m hoping next time … I’ll be able to take (the opportunity),” Valente said.
“It’s a massive mental thing … the (jump in standard) is massive as well.
“I’ve never had any doubts that I’m good enough, I just haven’t quite taken my opportunity yet, which is disappointing.”
Valente was keen to deflect the praise to Page, Pengelley and medium pacer Brad Fallon, who also claimed five poles, as the Buffalos surged to 4-1 under new coach Shaun Tait.
Glenelg’s Ben Bullimore (87) continued his strong start to the season as the Seahorses bounced back from a draw and a loss in their last to starts with a victory over Prospect at home. The hosts’ 8/254 proved too much for the Pirates, who managed 7/201.
Josh Roach (27), Danny Irvine (27), Liam Scott (26) and Craig Dand (25 not out) provided Bullimore assistance at the crease.
Glenelg next takes on Adelaide in a two-day match beginning this Saturday.
TEA TREE GULLY 6/349 WEST TORRENS 320
It was “a bad day to be a bowler” at Pertaringa Oval on Saturday according to Tea Tree Gully player/coach Matt Weaver with a flat wicket providing stacks of runs in the Bulls’ grade cricket win over West Torrens.
Englishman Joe Gatting made it back-to-back tons with a storming 100 off 75 balls, Tim Davey blasted 94 from 74 and Weaver added 90 from 75 as the hosts piled on 6/349 off 50 overs.
The Eagles, led by a brilliant 123 from young opener Bailey Capel, made a good fist of the chase but were bowled out for 320.
Capel put together a 135-run first-wicket stand with Patrick Fisher (64) but Tea Tree Gully’s Adam Somerfield took 5/54 in a crucial performance.
It was the Bulls first win of the season after a stop-start beginning to the campaign where they suffered two defeats, had the bye and then drew with Southern District last round. Weaver was pleased to get off the mark but said the bowling performance wasn’t up to scratch.
“It was one of those days where it was a bad day to be a bowler,” said Weaver who put on 137 for the first wicket alongside Jack Holliday (47).
“There wasn’t much margin for error and both sides got off to flyers. We didn’t bowl very well and kept the game alive a lot longer than we wanted.
“A lot of guys are making runs at the moment. The Kookaburra turf ball doesn’t offer the bowlers much and there’s some flat wickets.
“But we’re in that development phase at the moment where, as a young group, we’re going to have to learn how to bowl teams out.”
STURT 3/255 PORT ADELAIDE 7/253
An unbeaten century from skipper Brad Davis helped Sturt record its second victory of this grade cricket season.
The Blues beat Port Adelaide in their 50-over clash, also for two-day points, away on Saturday after managing to chase down the Magpies’ 7/253.
Sturt coach Ben Cameron labelled the performance “almost complete” and was pleased his side notched a win after having a bye the week prior.
“I’m firstly very proud of the whole group for showing some resilience after we dropped our first couple of games and probably didn’t play our best in the win against East Torrens,” Cameron said.
“We had our backs up against the wall a little bit (against Port) but we put together an almost complete performance.
“The batters certainly showed what they are capable of doing.”
Port batted first with opener Aussie Umpherston (125) helping the hosts to its handy score. But Davis (101 not out) and Jacob Dick (69) led Sturt to 3/255.
Corey Kelly (3/39) and Angus Judd (3/33) were the Blues’ leading wicket-takers.
“He (Davis) continues to show his class at premier level and we are just hoping he can take his opportunities in (state) second XI cricket between now and Christmas to push his case for first class again,” Cameron said.
“I’d like to hope he’s in the conversation to play some one-day cricket for SA in the next month.
“But he was well supported by Jacob Dick and Tom Kelly and Zyggy Kulesza.
“Our three teenagers – Corey Kelly, Angus Judd and Hanno Jacobs are all 18 so the fact they led the way with Daniel Clarke in those first 23 overs to really put pressure on Port Adelaide – that was a key part of the game.”
WOODVILLE 132 EAST TORRENS 133
Woodville coach Peter Sleep hopes Saturday’s crushing grade cricket loss at the hands of East Torrens will be just a hiccup in the context of the season.
The Peckers were battered at Woodville Oval in the nine-wicket loss to the Reds.
They were rolled for 132 in the one-day clash before the visitors passed the total in 31 overs while losing just one batsman.
“That’s probably going to be our worst performance for the year, hopefully,” said Sleep, who is in his first season with the Peckers.
“We certainly got outplayed, that’s for sure. It was a hiccup for us.
“We’ve got some really good young blokes in the mix and they’re learning really quickly.
“Generally our bowling has been quite good. As a whole our batting, apart from Fuss whose probably been our most consistent batter, we need a bit more out of everyone in that department.
“I’m quietly confident we’re on the right track.
“If we can get a win against Sturt (this Saturday), we have the bye after that, and we would go into Christmas in a reasonable position with four wins on the board.”
Louis Green and Dylan Mylius appeared to have the innings under control for Woodville at 0/45 but when Green was bowled by Tate Robins on 15, Jacob Dickman fell for a golden duck to Luke Robins straight after and Mylius followed on 29, the hosts were reeling at 3/49.
East Torrens’ Michael Cormack (4/23) ripped through the Peckers’ middle order.
Sleep expected to have state players Harry Nielsen, Tom Andrews and Conor McInerney available next week for the first day of a two-day clash away to Sturt.
KENSINGTON 7/242 ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY 241
Joining Adelaide at the top of the ladder is Adelaide University who chased down Kensington’s 241 all out.
Former Western Warrior Will Bosisto (116 off 130 cherries) guided his team home at Kensington Gardens Reserve.
The Browns elected to bat first and skipper Jake Brown (29) made a start.
Fellow opener John Dalton (54), No. 3 Josh Doyle (63) and Alex Ross (45) were also strong with the bat but the hosts lost their last seven wickets for just 39.
Uni’s Chris Beaty (4/32) tore apart Kensington’s batsmen, while Bosisto (3/32) was also prolific with the ball.
Blacks skipper Ben Wakim opened the Blacks’ batting and added a handy 31, while Campbell Vadlja hit 25.
Doyle (2/42) and Davis Grant (2/50) were Kensington’s multiple wicket-takers.
The Browns are fourth after the loss.
GLENELG 8/254 PROSPECT 7/201
Glenelg’s Ben Bullimore (87) has continued his strong summer as the Seahorses’ 8/254 proved too much for Prospect.
The Pirates could only manage 7/201 in reply at Glenelg Oval.
Glenelg opener Liam Scott (26) got the hosts off to a good start, while Danny Irvine (27) and Josh Roach (27) also pitched in.
Harry Cunningham (3/35) was best with the ball for the Seahorses.
Paul Wasiewicz, meanwhile, led the way with the bat for Prospect topscoring for his side with 59, while Ben Turley amassed an unbeaten 53.
Jasper Darley (2/38) and Nathan Brice (2/33) did best with the ball for the Pirates.
Glenelg sits sixth on the ladder, while Prospect is bottom.
WOMEN’S WRAP
In women’s action, the Eagles fell out of contention for a place in the Twenty20 grand final after a loss to Northern Districts at home on Sunday.
West Torrens, needing to win to have any chance of finishing in the top two on the ladder, posted 8/78 but the Jets powered through to reach the total in 12 overs without losing a wicket.
Kayla McGrath topscored for the Eagles with 16, while Steph Beazleigh (44) was the Jets’ best with the bat.
Neisha Iles (2/9) and Taylah Gregory (2/14) were Northern’s multiple wicket-takers.
Ella Wilson (27) led the way for Southern District in its victory over Sturt.
The Stingrays posted 118 and the Blues fell short, managing 6/108.
Stacey Oates (36) topscored for Sturt but a strong bowling performance from Kelly Armstrong (3/10) helped the Stingrays get over the line.
Kensington remain top despite having the bye, while Southern is second.
The final minor round of Twenty20 women’s matches are this Sunday with the Browns taking on the Eagles and Sturt playing Northern Districts.
The Stingrays have the bye.
THIS WEEK
■ Prospect v Tea Tree Gully @ Prospect Oval
■ West Torrens v Southern District @ Henley Grange Memorial Oval
■ Adelaide v Glenelg @ Glandore Oval
■ Adelaide University v Northern Districts@ Park No. 12
■ East Torrens v Kensington @ Campbelltown Memorial Oval
■ Sturt v Woodville @ Price Memorial Oval
■ Port Adelaide – bye