Port Adelaide wins two-day Grade Cricket premiership with grand final victory over Tea Tree Gully
PORT Adelaide has ended a 46-year drought by winning its first A grade premiership since 1968 with a thrilling grand final triumph over Tea Tree Gully.
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PORT Adelaide has ended a 46-year drought by winning its first SACA A grade premiership since 1968 with a thrilling grand final triumph over Tea Tree Gully.
Chasing a modest 166 for victory at Glenelg Oval yesterday, the Magpies survived a nervous afternoon before reaching 8/170 to cap a remarkable mid-season turnaround when they were staring at the prospect of a bottom-four finish.
Instead last night they were the toast of the Grade Cricket competition after stopping the Bulls from completing a clean sweep of the two-day, one-day and Twenty20 titles.
Skipper Nick Benton won the David Hookes Medal for his 6/61 with the ball and he was at the crease when Port Adelaide brought up the winning runs.
Club coach Paul Finnie, who has been at the helm for six years, paid tribute to game-day coach Luke Williams for his role in the club’s revival.
He said the team faced a few anxious moments yesterday but stood firm to add the two-day premiership to their Twenty20 title from 2009.
“We lost a couple of wickets early and it got tight as you expect in these games,” Finnie said.
“It was always the aim coming in and you wanted the guys to believe they could do it.
“But in Grade Cricket you need to be in the top four of 13 teams just to get in the finals so it’s hard and a lot of things have to go right.
“It’s a bit surreal but I’m rapt for the guys and the club, it’s nice to see people smiling.
“We want to build on it now because there’s a lot of work to be done in junior cricket around Port Adelaide so hopefully this galvanises things.”
Tim Evans top scored for Tea Tree Gully with 45 on day one while only three players made it past 20 for Port Adelaide.
The Magpies reached their target with two wickets to spare.
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