Seahorses slip up in grade cricket’s final round to leave the door open for the Blues and Blacks
Glenelg is the first side to slip in the grade cricket finals race as Sturt and Adelaide University look like battling it out to make the top four. All of the action in our wrap from a tight final round.
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Glenelg is the first side to slip in the grade cricket finals race as Sturt and Adelaide University look like battling it out to make the top four.
The Seahorses are in trouble against powerhouse Tea Tree Gully and plenty of teams will be watching other results with intent on day two this Saturday, while attempting to take care of their own business.
Here is Messenger Community News’ wrap from a tense final round of fixtures.
ADELAIDE UNI 8/289
STURT
Sturt has its fate in its own hands as the Blues go into day two against Adelaide University one good performance with the bat away from a finals berth.
Coach Ben Cameron believed his sixth-placed side was every chance to jump into the top four with the fifth-placed Blacks 8/289 overnight at Price Memorial Oval.
A four-way race for third and fourth on the ladder is on between Sturt, Uni, Glenelg and Adelaide.
The fourth-placed Seahorses look set to fall out of the finals spots, facing a tough ask of chasing down almost 400 against Tea Tree Gully, while the Buffalos need 244 to get points against Port Adelaide.
“Both us and Adelaide Uni are in the same boat,” Cameron said.
“Port will ask some questions of Adelaide and I think Glenelg struggle to chase down 400 against Tea Tree Gully.
“So whoever wins is likely to finish fourth and the loser will finish sixth.
“We’re a pretty motivated group so we’ll be looking to finish as high as possible on the ladder, even if that is fifth if the finals spots are gone.”
Sturt could have been even more confident heading into day two this Saturday if it was not for Blacks all-rounder Sam Kerber.
The No. 4 made more than half of his side’s runs with a sparkling 152, including 17 fours and four sixes.
Cameron rated Kerber’s innings highly but believed the Blues were poised for victory.
“We toiled hard but at the end of the day Sam was excellent,” he said.
“It was one of the better hundreds I’ve seen at this level.
“The biggest difference was we bowled about 15-20 really bad balls to Sam and he punished us with boundaries.
“When I spoke to the boys after the game I said they were good without being excellent.
“300 is generally par at Price Memorial Oval.
“If our top order can do what it’s capable of, I think we’ve got every chance to get points.”
Max Parker, who eventually removed Kerber late in the day, was the pick of the Blues bowlers taking 3/61.
Brinder Phagura chipped in with 2/51.
Luke Crocker (5*) and Zac Schwarz (12*) will resume at the crease this Saturday.
PORT ADELAIDE 244
ADELAIDE 0/23
Adelaide appears set to make its first two day grade cricket finals appearance in more than a decade but will need to run down a tricky total to get there.
The Buffalos are 0/23 overnight chasing Port Adelaide’s 244 at Port Reserve, well-positioned to retain their third place on the ladder.
Josh Pengelley was the main man with the ball for Adelaide, snaring 4/55, while Cam Valente, Michael Cormack and Bradley Fallon took two wickets each.
Sam Raphael (14*) and Matthew Nobes (9*) will resume at the crease for the Buffalos this Saturday.
TEA TREE GULLY 9/388
GLENELG
Glenelg will need a huge effort to keep hold of fourth spot when it returns to Glenelg Oval this Saturday with Tea Tree Gully in control on 9/388.
Will Bowering (5/112) and Liam Thompson (4/64) battled hard in a long day in the field for the Seahorses.
A Glenelg loss would open the door for the winner of Sturt and Adelaide University to jump into the top four.
Kensington and the Bulls, sitting first and second on the ladder respectively, cannot fall out of the finals spots.
Tea Tree Gully has a chance to snare the minor premiership if it wins and the Browns lose to West Torrens.
Ben Hutchinson smashed 116 for Tea Tree Gully, Tim Davey made 87 and Matt Weaver hit 79.
Tim Oakley and Ben Atkinson, both yet to get off the mark, will resume at the crease this Saturday.
KENSINGTON 201
WEST TORRENS 2/27
West Torrens cannot make the grade cricket finals but may have a say in its make up as it attempts to chase down top side Kensington this Saturday.
The eighth-placed Eagles are 2/27 overnight at Kensington in reply to the Browns’ 201.
Ben Williams recaptured some form to take 4/38 as West Torrens’ bowlers restricted the competition leaders to a reachable total.
Skipper Kelvin Smith (11*) and Daniel Drew (6*) will look to chase the Browns down this Saturday.
Earlier, Kensington’s top order could not convert starts into big scores.
Joshua Doyle topscored with 46, while Alex Ross (41), Henry Dall (20), Jake Brown (18), Sam Williams (19) and John Dalton (10) could not capitalise.
If Kensington loses, it will likely relinquish top spot with second-placed Tea Tree Gully in control of its match against Glenelg.
WOODVILLE 236
PROSPECT 2/41
At Woodville Oval, the 10th-ranked Peckers made 236 against Prospect on the back of 56 from in-form Englishman Matthew Stiddard.
Mitchell Fuss scored 41 from 40 balls for Woodville, while Dean Fry added 30 and Jacob Dickman chipped in with 29.
Ben Turley took 3/39 across 20 overs, including seven maidens, for Prospect.
The Pirates, who have a chance to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder, will resume at 2/41 this Saturday.
A Prospect victory and a Northern Districts loss would lift the Pirates to 12th.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS 159
SOUTHERN DISTRICT 5/134
Northern Districts’ disappointing season appears destined to end on a sour note as it stares down the barrel of another defeat in the final round against Southern District.
The Jets were bowled out for 159 – despite a fighting 64 from 73 balls by player/coach Mark Cosgrove – and the Stingrays are 5/134 in reply overnight.
Cooper Thompson came in at No. 9 to add 43.
Northern has not won a two-day game since October and, if bottom side Prospect defeats Woodville, it will collect the wooden spoon.
Alternatively, Southern can finish on a high note, if it wins a second consecutive game after last week’s upset triumph over top side Kensington.
It would be Southern’s third victory of the season, should it make the 26 runs required.
Brendan McCormack (38*) and David Sboro (8*) will resume at the crease.
Nick Bowen (27), Shaun Tanner (24) and Josh Barrett (24) all chipped in with runs.
Earlier on day one, Tom Hynes snared 5/43 in just his fourth A-grade match of the season to lead the Stingrays’ attack.
Huw Stone and Jake Marshall each took two wickets.
WOMEN’S RESULTS
West Torrens’ finals hopes are over after it recorded 9/172 before Northern Districts made 9/174 for a narrow victory.
The Eagles are two wins back from fourth spot ahead of the final round this Sunday.
Southern District failed to chase down top side Kensington’s 172 at Strathalbyn Oval on Sunday, getting bowled out for 85.
Selina Solman (33) and Kylie Rattray (29) battled hard but their teammates were all dismissed for single figures.
The Stingrays are third and guaranteed to make the finals with one round remaining.
The Jets sit second while Sturt is fourth.
Port Adelaide forfeited again, handing the Blues a victory.
patrick.keam@news.com.au
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