Thrash Talk: Kensington looks to paint town Brown as all four senior men’s grade teams prepare for grand finals
All four Kensington men’s grade teams are in grand finals for the first time since 1977/78, plus an Adelaide turf side’s rapid rise to A1 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:
KENSINGTON HOPES TO PAINT THE TOWN BROWN
Kensington is hoping to claim four grand final wins this weekend after its senior men’s A, B, C and D-grade teams all booked spots in tittle deciders.
It is believed no other grade club has achieved the feat of having all four sides feature in grand finals.
In last week’s semi-finals, the Browns’ A grade beat Adelaide University, the Bs triumphed against Tea Tree Gully, the Cs defeated Adelaide University and the Ds were too strong for Sturt.
Teenager leg-spin sensation Lloyd Pope led the As to its second A grade grand final in three years, taking 6/67.
Kensington last had all four of its senior men’s teams in grand finals in 1977/78.
The huge weekend ahead for the Browns is set to go like this:
■ A grade: v Adelaide at Glenelg Oval
■ Bs: v University at Parkinson Oval
■ Cs: v Glenelg at Prospect Oval
■ Ds: v East Torrens at Campbelltown Oval
OLD SCHOLARS CLIMB INTO TOP TIER IN THREE SEASONS
Trinity College Old Scholars is enjoying a rapid rise in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association, securing the minor premiership for a second-straight season and promotion into A1 for next summer.
The team beat Woodville South in its final A2 minor round at home on Saturday – its 260 proved too much for the visitors, who were restricted to 102 in reply.
Trinity ended the minor round with a 9-1-1 record and was preparing to play Flinders Park in a semi-final this Saturday/Sunday.
Alex Cotter (126) led the way for Trinity against Woodville South.
His ton included eight fours and nine sixes, while Brad Schaper was also solid with 43 not out.
Jarryd Furnell (3/24) and Stefan Lainas (3/9) were Trinity’s best with the ball.
The promotion to A1 follows Trinity’s grand final win in A3 last season.
In the turf competition, the team that ends the minor round top receives automatic promotion.
PLENTY OF HUNDREDS
Some great hundreds were made in vain this week – this was the best of them.
In Turf’s C1, Goodwood set Gepps Cross a challenging 7/224 from 40 overs.
In reply, the chase slumped to 5/34 and all seemed lost.
Enter Anthony Taheny, who obviously hadn’t read the script.
He slammed 139, laced with 15 fours and eight sixes.
He was ninth out at 210 as the valiant pursuit fell just short at 217.
QUICKFIRE KNOCK
It was a similar story in Adelaide & Suburban section nine.
Plympton Footballers racked up 242 and Happy Valley then collapsed to 3/16.
Anthony Ferguson did his best with a brutal 107 from 80 balls (five fours, 11 sixes) and dominated the chase so much that when he was ninth out, the total was only 144.
It ended at 153.
HAIL THE VALE
In Para Districts LO2, runs flowed for Angle Vale.
The Vale smashed an impressive 3/330 from its 40 overs.
Leading the way was Evan Thomas with 163 not out (11 fours, 10 sixes).
With John Richardson, who made 106 (16 fours, two sixes), Thomas added 206 for the second wicket.
This was all too much for Craigmore, which fell way short at 158.
JUNIOR GRADE GRAND FINALS DECIDED
Summer is almost over but the local cricket scene is becoming exciting for the clubs involved in grand finals.
In grade cricket’s under-16 Red competition, Adelaide will battle Sturt this Saturday/Sunday.
The Blues restricted the West Torrens to 117 on day one of their semi-final at Henley Grange Memorial Oval and then replied with 257.
Nicholas Neumann (3/34) and Cooper Kupke (3/14) did the damage for Sturt with the ball.
Reghard Els (55) and Henry Beenham (52) were strong with the bat.
Adelaide, meanwhile, held Prospect to 77 one day one at Prospect Oval before replying with
8/164.
A four-wicket haul to Cooper Heesemans (4/17) put the Buffaloes in a strong position.
Jett Raphael (34) led the way with the bat.
Adelaide is also in the under-14 Red title decider and will play Northern Districts this weekend.
The Buffaloes booked their spot in the grand final after they triumphed over Woodville in their semi-final at Glandore Oval last weekend.
Will Patton topscored with 68 not out.
ALL ROUND EFFORT
It was almost a one-man show in Turf’s B1 competition too.
Adelaide Warriors restricted Unley to a fairly dull 6/106 from 40 overs.
Rajith Premachandra took 3/17 then came out and pounded 69 not out.
With Thavishka Premachandra (31 not out), he led a 10-wicket victory in just 14 overs.
HODSON IS TOO HOT
In Para Districts LO1, Para Vista’s Timothy Hodson helped himself to some more Central United bowling, hitting 126 not out, having taken them for 176 not out earlier in the season. The total of 4/240 was too many as the chase ended at 9/158.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
AS EASY AS 1-2-3
In Turf’s LO6, Kilburn’s Ejaz Syed enjoyed his first ton of the season, making 123 (seven fours, nine sixes) in a total of 3/254.
All too much for Golden Grove’s 117.
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