Port Adelaide defender Tom Clurey backs Power to beat Crows by four or five wickets in Twenty20 Bushfire Showdown
Defender Tom Clurey has talked up Port Adelaide’s chances of beating the Crows ahead of Sunday’s Twenty20 Bushfire Showdown at Adelaide Oval. And he has backed one Power player to star with the bat.
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Tom Clurey has backed his Port Adelaide XI to beat the Crows by four or five wickets in Sunday’s Twenty20 Bushfire Showdown at Adelaide Oval.
Clurey, Tom Jonas (captain), Travis Boak, Kane Farrell, Hamish Hartlett, Todd Marshall, Connor Rozee and Boyd Woodcock will line up for the Power in the game, which will raise funds for the SA bushfire appeal.
Tom Lynch will skipper an Adelaide XI that will also feature Brad and Matt Crouch, Darcy Fogarty, Brodie Smith, Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane and Paul Seedsman.
The teams’ remaining players will include Adelaide Strikers, Redbacks and CFS volunteers.
Speaking at a net session at Adelaide Oval No. 2 on Tuesday, Port defender and middle-order batsman Clurey believed his side would have too much firepower for their rivals.
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The Power are the reigning premiers in the Adelaide Turf competition’s division three Twenty20 competition, representing Grange Dolphins, while a handful of Crows have taken to the field for Prince Alfred Old Collegians this summer.
“I reckon we’ll get up by four or five wickets – set the target first and go after them,” Clurey said.
“Hamish Hartlett rates himself pretty highly – he reckons he played some pretty high standard junior cricket back in the day.
“Boaky and young Boyd Woodcock rates himself pretty highly as well, he’s made a fair few runs this year for Grange so he’s up and about.
“I’m backing in Hartsy (to star) in front of a big crowd – he’ll probably open and it’ll be interesting to see.
“I’m pretty confident with our line-up.”
Clurey, a Victoria country underage player and Dolphins premiership player last season, said he used to be a big fan of former England all-rounder Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff.
But he said he had not played for Grange yet this season because he was looking after his body.
“It should be all right, I’ve had a few net sessions,” he said.
Clurey said he was not too concerned about Adelaide’s cricket form.
“I know the Crouch boys can play a little bit and am pretty sure they were handy back in the day,” he said.
ðŸOllie Wines & @twjonas42 bowling to @BoydWoodcock during Port Adelaide's net session @TheAdelaideOval for Sunday's Twenty20 cricket match against the Crows. Story to come. pic.twitter.com/fY0nohr8zu
— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) January 28, 2020
“Apparently Tommy Lynch is pretty handy as well.
“But we’ll just try to hit the ball ourselves.
“I’m sure there’ll be a little bit (of on-field banter), but I’m just going to be focused on my fielding and try not to fumble.”
Clurey said players were excited about showing their wares and having fun for a good cause in front of a big crowd.
“(The cause) is super important and all the boys are keen to go out there and help in any way we can,” he said.
The game will start at 2.30pm on Sunday.
Tickets are available at Ticketek.