Thrash Talk: 24 wickets fall at Payneham Oval and bees buzz through the Bay
THE wicket at Payneham Oval is known as the Dukes’ Highway but on Saturday it was the highway to hell for batsmen. Plus a pitch invasion with a difference and more in this week’s local cricket wrap, Thrash Talk.
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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 story or anything in between, Chris “Thrasher” Farrantand 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:
HIGHWAY STILL BUMPY
It may have just been re-laid over the winter but it appears the wicket at Payneham Oval still has plenty of the demons that have given batsmen nightmares over the years.
The pitch, known as the Dukes Highway, was more like a highway to hell as a remarkable 24 wickets fell on day two of the A1 Turf clash between Payneham and Old Scotch.
Dukes spinner Mark Barber will be happy for the pitch’s potholes to remain after taking 7/39 on Saturday, backing up a haul of 6/17 the previous week.
Barber, an ex-Kensington tweaker who always wears his cap when he bowls, took advantage of some inconsistent bounce and ripped through the Old Scotch order in his 10 overs.
But the visitors, who have been promoted to the top tier this season, had the last laugh by taking the points.
Old Scotch was bowled out for 108 before skittling the Dukes for 62.
Tom Bourne had the hot hand for Scotch with 6/27.
Heading back to the crease on day two, the visitors, led by a match-high 39 off 34 balls from Max Marlsen, posted 106.
Payneham hit 6/118 in its second knock before the close of play but Old Scotch had made just enough to take the lion’s share of the points.
BUZZING AT THE BAY
Glenelg’s batsmen were busy dealing with the West Torrens’ bowlers in Grade Cricket on Saturday when a different threat flew into the Bay oval.
A large swarm of bees invaded the pitch and players quickly dropped to the deck to avoid the intruders.
Play was suspended for up to 10 minutes until the flying insects had moved on and the Seahorses could get back to batting.
The delay did not affect Glenelg run-machine Tom Plant.
The club’s all-time leading runscorer hit 101 off 136 balls to lead his side to 5/255 after 50 overs.
Plant’s ton also added another record to his list – the most A-grade hundreds to his name at the club.
Kelvin Smith and his West Torrens teammates spoilt the Seahorses’ party.
Smith, last year’s joint Bradman Medallist, smashed an unbeaten 162 from 130 balls as the Eagles chased down the total and posted 7/256.
He hit four sixes and 13 fours in more than three hours at the crease.
WHAT’S THE STORY? DYLAN’S GLORY
We have the bowling figures to beat already.
After Craigmore rattled up 4/276 from 40 overs in Para Districts LO3, ATCO was skittled for just 30 by Dylan Vonderwall, who snared 7/8 in just five busy overs.
But after all, he’s a Vonderwall.
DON’T STOPP ME NOW
Fitzroy opener Tyler Stopp welcomed his team’s switch to Adelaide & Suburban Section Three with a superb 150.
Opening the batting, Stopp hit 20 fours and four sixes before being run out.
His side went on to tally 7/340, a big ask for North Haven next week.
CLEARING THE WAY
Another opener carving up the bowling was Panorama’s Matthew McCleary in Turf LO3. His 138 (18 hours, five sixes) completely dominated his team’s score of 7/222, which was way too many for the Blue Brigade Sports Club (130).
DOING HIS BIT
It’s not often a bowler takes a seven-for on the wrong side of an absolute drubbing.
In PDCA Grade Three, Dublin’s Jaidyn Bowley, in trying to defend his side’s meagre 75, took 7/68 from 18 overs.
But ATCO easily got the points with 214.
Dublin was then routed again for 48 and a big outright loss.
MCQUEEN ESCAPES WITH WIN
A big haul of wickets featured in another outright win in PDCA, this time Grade Four.
Eyre Royals’ Christopher McQueen took 5/13 from 13 overs to blow away Enfield for 53. The chase would have been dodgy if it wasn’t for Dylan Chaffey making 120 (13 fours, two sixes) out of just 180.
Thanks to McQueen, that was also enough for the outright, as he took another bag (5/10) to watch Enfield go down for 56.
Given Enfield lost 6/0 and was 8/11, I guess we could say it rallied.
McQueen finished the match with 10 wickets.
TO THE RESCUE (1)
In ASCA Section Two, Happy Valley’s Scott Rademacher led a recovery from 5/32 with a dominant 116 (13 fours, four sixes), putting on 141 for the seventh wicket with Matthew Cox (40).
Morphettville Park is chasing 190 next week.
TO THE RESCUE (2)
A similar rescue mission happened in PDCA LO2, where Para Vista Lutheran’s Jason O’Regan hammered 103 not out while taking his side from 4/81 to 227 with the help of Scott Brown (33 not out).
They added 146 in an unbroken stand.
Salisbury West fell short with 8/168.
TONS OF FUN
The tons keep coming. In ASCA Section One, Plympton Footballers’ Brad Middlin was the star of his side’s imposing 268 with 107, setting a challenge for Keswick.
Keswick was 0/12 at stumps.