Thrash Talk: Ex-Test and Redbacks quick Shaun Tait blasts century for Hahndorf in local cricket
HE WAS feared by batsmen from across the world but it was a former Test quick’s ability with the bat which struck terror into the opposition on Saturday, plus and more in this week’s local cricket wrap: Thrash Talk.
- Thrash Talk: 24 wickets fall on ‘Highway to Hell’ wicket
- Englishman is Grade Cricket’s hottest new batsman
- All out for 14: Team’s nightmare start to summer
- Brown century gets Kensi home in one-run thriller
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:
WILD THING TEES OFF
He was once feared by top-level batsmen from across the world but it was Shaun Tait’s ability with the willow that struck terror into the opposition on Saturday.
“The Wild Thing” blasted 129 in quick time as he captained Hahndorf to a big win over Bremer/Callington in the Alexandra & Eastern Hills Cricket Association.
Tait hit 19 boundaries (11 sixes, eight fours) in the barnstorming knock at Hahndorf Oval.
The 35-year-old passed his ton in fewer than 100 balls.
Coming in at No.4, Tait combined with opener and club president Greg Hassold (108) for a 232-run third-wicket stand as the Magpies went onto make 7/340 in 45 overs.
“I had the best seat in the house,” Hassold said.
“He was pretty destructive and once the innings got going, it was great to watch.
“Hahndorf (Oval) isn’t a small ground but he was clearing the fence by about 15-20m with pretty much every one of his sixes.
Bremer/Callington was all out for 173 in reply, as seven Hahndorf bowlers took wickets.
Incredibly, Tait was not one of them.
The skipper decided against sending down his trademark slinging deliveries, surely to the relief of to the visitors.
Tait called time on his 15-year state career following the 2016/17 Big Bash League season saying his troublesome elbow was “done and dusted”.
Hassold said Tait still bowled swinging medium-pacers, “off about five steps”, from time to time.
But he has showcased his speed to the Magpies team on occasion, but only in the nets to an empty crease.
Last season the three-Test quick whacked three centuries – 103, 128 and 153 – playing for Nairne in the same competition.
In 2016 he smacked 160 off 119 balls in a match against Wistow.
Hahndorf is yet to lose so far this campaign, Tait’s first at the club, and sits on top of the ladder after three matches.
LUKE’S BARRY CROCKER
Ties are rare results in cricket.
But Adelaide University and Kensington’s B-grade match finished with scores level on Saturday.
The Blacks were chasing the Browns’ 149 in the 50-over clash at Parkinson Oval and needed eight to win from the final six balls with one wicket in hand.
Luke Crocker and Josiah Grzyb were at the crease for Uni with the opportunity to be heroes.
At the other end, it was Redbacks swing bowler Dan Worrall bowling for Kensington as he made his comeback from injury.
It began beautifully for Uni when the first delivery was ruled a no-ball because the Browns had too many players outside the ring.
The next ball, a free-hit, was dispatched by Crocker over the ropes for six and the Blacks had victory in their sights.
A dot ball followed, leaving just one run needed from the remaining four deliveries.
Crocker, sniffing a chance to hit the winning runs in spectacular fashion, attempted to blast Worrall over the boundary a second time but the slog struck the top edge and found its way to a fieldsman at point.
Tail-ender Crocker finished on 21 to be the Blacks’ second-highest scorer, behind Tom Robertson (50).
We get a feeling his teammates might have mentioned something to him about playing the ball along the deck next time.
The crazy finishes did not end there for Kensington on Saturday.
A brilliant century from captain Jake Brown was the catalyst as the Browns triumphed over Uni by a single run in the A grade.
The Blacks, needing eight runs for victory in the last over, finished on 7/222 in reply to the Browns’ 8/223 in a game of fluctuating fortunes.
The Kensington skipper made 102 from 151 balls to add to his 113 and 83 in the first two rounds.
DOUBLE DELIGHT
We have our first double hundred for the season – an unbeaten one.
In Adelaide & Suburban’s Section Six, Coromandel Ramblers’ Andrew O’Keefe plundered 214 not out in his team’s huge 9/401 against North Haven.
His remarkable knock came from just 161 balls and was built on a staggering 30 fours and nine sixes – that’s 174 without running.
The reply was well short, but featured a batting effort almost as amazing.
North Haven managed just 114 and opener Adam Hocking got 69 of those.
In the second innings, Haven made fewer (108), but Hocking scored 81 of them.
That’s 155 of his side’s match total of 222 – or nearly 70 per cent of the whole score.
Not bad in a huge outright loss.
ONE-MAN SHOW
Easily the best all-round effort came in Para Districts’ Grade Six.
One Tree Hill’s Brayden Duncan belted 109, dragging his side from a dodgy 5/70 to a solid 204.
He then backed up with the ball to slaughter North Pines for 39, taking 6/20 from six overs, plus a catch for good measure.
LISTER IN FORM
Not far behind in the all-rounder class was One Tree Hill’s Luke Lister.
In the Grade Three clash with Dublin, Lister took 3/12 from five overs to help restrict the chase to 123, then pounded 120 to leave his side unbeatable at 8/231 at stumps.
A SECOND CENTURY
Panorama Matthew McCleary continued a blistering start to the season, following last week’s 138 with 111 not out (117 balls) to help the Rams to 2/205 against Unley.
The response fell well short at 9/109.
McCleary is averaging 249 in October.
SEYMOUR’S TON
A big hundred to ICC’s Jason Seymour led to a crushing win in the Section Six game against Keswick.
Seymour made 134 in the tally of 342, to which Keswick could only offer up 92, then held on for a draw at 4/55.
TAKE PRATT
In Turf’s A3, Brahma Lodge’s Josh Pratt was the mainstay all day with 122 from 217 balls (19 fours).
He featured in a stand of 167 with Jarrod Salter (81), which led to a total of 6/262.
This looked even better when Reynella stumbled to 2/4.
LEADING THE WAY
In PDCA, VHP’s Deepak Kunijir i led the way with 103 in a challenging total of 260.
Seems it wasn’t a challenge at all as Two Wells imploded for 57.
A TIDY EFFORT
Juniors are up and running and here’s a young bowler to watch out for.
North Pines’ Shiv Patel returned the very tidy figures of 4/9 from eight overs.
It wasn’t enough to stop Craigmore from getting the points.