Alex Carey and Travis Head power South Australia to victory against Tasmania in Adelaide
Alex Carey and Travis Head combined to derail Tasmania and show national selectors their class in an impressive bonus point win at Karen Rolton Oval.
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Travis Head has left a cruel Ashes demotion in the rearview mirror while lauding Alex Carey’s world class strokeplay after combining for South Australia’s bonus-point battering of Tasmania in Adelaide.
Dream team Head and Carey raced South Australia to a first hometown one-day win in seven years, squaring its Marsh Cup ledger at 2-2 in style against Tasmania.
Unbeaten duo Head (80) and Carey (80, 52 balls) tore the Tigers apart in a reminder of the prowess available to national selectors.
An unbroken 130-run, third-wicket stand delivered an eight-wicket, bonus-point triumph at Karen Rolton Oval.
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“It was a pretty important win. I don’t think we were thinking about bonus point material when we started but Kez flipped the game on its head,” said Head of Test keeper Tim Paine’s heir apparent.
“It was a pretty special innings from him.”
Man-of-the-match Carey had been threatening to unleash all tournament and the keeper-batsman’s crisp hitting was a class above.
“He is very clear and in such good touch. His white ball cricket is very good, made the switch down the order to No. 4,” said Head.
“I think he will play more in the middle order in his career for Australia. He wanted to bat through the middle and do the job for us.”
There were all the hallmarks of Carey’s exceptional 375 World Cup runs at 62.5. Carey’s domination of a quality attack was underscored with a pull over the deep mid-wicket rope off tearaway Riley Meredith (2/69) that accompanied 13 boundaries.
Australian one-day vice-captain Carey has gained immeasurable self belief from his selection in the World Cup team of the tournament. He is destined for a Twenty20 recall for Australia against Sri Lanka this month in Adelaide.
“His T20 record is very good and batting in the middle order on different wickets shows he is adaptable,” said Head of Carey.
Head was dropped for the final Ashes Test at The Oval but his effortless knock was a reminder of the talent that’s recorded a 51.1 Test average this year and maiden one-day ton against Pakistan on Australia Day 2017 in Adelaide.
“The wicket was tough but I felt fluent towards the back end of the innings and like I was striking the ball well,” said Head.
“It was nice to get back in a batting groove.”
A text-book straight drive off former Test seamer Jackson Bird was the pick of Head’s shots.
Head is targeting a Test recall in next month’s series opener against Pakistan at the Gabba but won’t be consumed by expectation.
“If you think about it too much you can do your mind in, I just enjoy it,” said Head, who faces a torrid audition against a Test-strength Victorian attack starting Thursday week in Melbourne.
“It was nice to come out and play well and win a game and put us in a good position.”
“Hopefully I can do the same in the next couple of weeks and have some success as a team.
“Runs against full strength teams will be tough and hopefully I can bat the same and get us off to a good start.”
Former site-screen attendant Caleb Jewell’s (104) maiden one-day ton was the backbone of Tasmania’s 7-255 but the Redbacks needed just 38.4 overs to reach their target.
And another! 💪ðŸ»
— West End Redbacks (@WestEndRedbacks) October 1, 2019
Richo gets his first now, with Jewell (104) caught well by Robins at long-off.
TAS 4/214 at the start of the 45th. #MarshCup pic.twitter.com/srljxmujTs
Left-hander Jewell put on 162 with Jordan Silk before the pair departed chasing quick runs. Silk top-edged leg-spinner Adam Zampa to skipper Head at short fine-leg in the 43rd over.
Jewell’s 117-ball knock included 10 boundaries as the Tigers pursued back to back wins in Adelaide and third spot on the ladder. Jewell fell attempting his first six, picking out Luke Robins at long-off from Kane Richardson (2/59).
Australian paceman Richardson followed with Beau Webster’s (14) scalp before Alex Carey ran out veteran George Bailey (19).
The Tigers’ innings had tapered off when Luke Robins bowled Jarrod Freeman. James Faulkner (3) and tail-ender Nathan Ellis (2) remained not out.
Redbacks batsman Alex Ross failed to recover from a nasty to blow to his hand in Sunday’s loss to Tasmania while speedster Joe Mennie succumbed to a hamstring strain.