Kensington to meet Adelaide in grand final after Lloyd Pope snares six wickets

TEENAGE spin sensation Lloyd Pope wove his magic in SACA Premier Cricket on Sunday to lead minor premier Kensington to its second grand final in three years.

CELEBRATION TIME: Adelaide players celebrate the key wicket of Tea Tree Gully’s Adam Somerfield in the semi-final at Pertaringa Oval. Picture: MARK BRAKE (AAP).

TEENAGE leg-spin sensation Lloyd Pope wove his magic in SACA Premier Cricket on Sunday to lead minor premiers Kensington to their second grand final in three years.

Pope rescued the Browns from a precarious position on day two of their semi-final against Adelaide University, taking a matchwinning 6/67, including the key wicket of Redbacks teammate Jake Weatherald which turned the game on its head.

After taking 117 overs to make 251, Kensington was in trouble when Weatherald and Peter Wilson produced a rapid-fire 105-run opening partnership. But Pope, 19, had danger man Weatherald caught for 57 and Wilson (33) followed him back to the pavilion without adding to the score.

Captain Ben Wakim was out for a second-ball duck and when Sam Kerber (17) and Kyle Brazell (16) failed to capitalise on starts the Blacks had slumped to 5/139.

Pope then took over, running through the middle and late order as Uni was bowled out for 210. Only wicketkeeper Daniel Kerber (38 not out) offered any late resistance.

Perennial powerhouse Kensington, which hasn’t won a first-grade premiership since 2010-11, will play Adelaide – upset winners against reigning premiers Tea Tree Gully – in the grand final at Glenelg Oval on Saturday and Sunday.

Cameron Valente of Adelaide celebrates taking his fourth wicket during the Premier Cricket semi-final between Tea Tree Gully and Adelaide at Pertaringa Oval on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image AAP/Mark Brake

The Browns had earlier recovered from 7/159 to make a healthy 251 after wicketkeeper Tom van der Jeugd (21 off 102 balls) and bowlers David Grant (34 off 139) and Cameron Fatchen (30 not out off 70) defied the attack for more than three hours.

Adelaide, chasing its first flag since 2003-04, overcame a nervous first hour yesterday to beat the Bulls by three wickets. Resuming at 4/120 in pursuit of the home side’s 142, the Buffalos lost 3/12 to slump to 7/132.

But hardhitting allrounder Josh Pengelley – batting at No. 9 – smashed boundaries with his first five scoring shots to join the determined Trevor Keen in leading his team past the target.

Tea Tree Gully conceded the match at lunch with Adelaide on 8/195 and leading by 53. Pengelley made 42 from 46 balls while Keen was unbeaten on 23 from 67 deliveries.

“At one stage we didn’t know where our next run was going to come from but Josh came out and took it to them, basically going “bang-bang'’, while Trevor played the perfect foil, nudging the ball around,’’ Buffalos coach Shaun Siegert said.

“We can’t underestimate what they did.’’

Veteran batsman Sam Raphael, who is chasing his first premiership in his 14th season, had earlier set Adelaide’s run chase alight with 52 from 52 balls. He featured in a crucial 82-run opening stand with Matthew Nobes (29).

While praising Pengelley and Keen for their matchwinning 57-run stand for the eighth wicket, Siegert said the win was set up in the field.

“Speaking to the Tea Tree Gully boys, they acknowledged that we bowled really tightly and didn’t give them anything to hit,’’ said Siegert, who has led the Buffalos into a grand final in just his second year in charge.

“And we took every catch that came our way. In contrast, they dropped three or four that made a difference.’’

Buffalos captain and Redbacks allrounder Cam Valente led from the front with 5/38 from 23 overs while opening partner, Pengelley, took 2/26 from 18 overs.