WATCH THE REPLAY: Scotch beats Prince Alfred in the Messenger Bowl school T20 cricket final

Scotch College won its first Messenger Bowl Twenty20 school cricket title and the son of an ex-Aussie rules footballer claimed man of the match. Relive the action in our replay here.

Scotch College has created history, winning its first Messenger Bowl Twenty20 school cricket title, beating Prince Alfred College away on Wednesday.

The inaugural winners batted first and made 7/142 before holding the hosts to just 8/113.

In a first for the competition, in its 13th year, the final was live streamed by The Messenger and The Advertiser.

Jed Obst, who is the son of an Olympic Gold Medallist and an Australian Rules footballer, was the star for Scotch, top scoring with 41 runs.

Obst was later awarded man of the match after wicketkeeping during PAC’s innings and taking a catch off a Harry Lemmey bowl.

Scotch bowler Harry Lemmey celebrates his wicket during the Messenger Bowl Twenty20 final against Prince Alfred. Picture: Sarah Reed

Obst has sporting ability running through his blood.

His mother is Juliet Obst (nee Haslam) who won gold medals with Australia’s women’s hockey team at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics.

His father, meanwhile, is Port Adelaide SANFL dual premiership player and Melbourne Demons midfielder Andrew Obst.

Toby Bywater (22) and Cormack O’Reilly (20) were the next best with the bat for Scotch.

Scotch coach Madu Maduwantha, who was also celebrating his birthday, said his players had worked hard and deserved the victory.

“It’s amazing, beating PAC at PAC as they are a strong team,” Maduwantha said.

“The players, the school, parents, everyone put in so much hard work and believed in the program.

“We were aiming for 140-150 runs and once we got it, we knew we would be fine because we have a strong bowling line-up.

Prince Alfred captain Harry Matthias in action during the Messenger Bowl Twenty20 final against Scotch. Matthias was one of the Reds’ best. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Most of these boys wouldn’t have played in a final, so I know they were a bit nervous, but it was a great experience for them.”

Scotch had the Reds reeling at 3/21 early in PAC’s reply.

Rising star Harry Chaplin (3/13) did plenty of damage.

As did Lemmey, who at just 15 years old took two wickets in the first over of his A grade debut with Sturt last year, snaring 3/3.

PAC skipper Harry Matthias (10) and Tyrell Sgroi (9) battled hard but were given little support at the crease.

Max Cunningham (3/8) was the pick of the Reds’ bowlers, while Will Charlton, Matthew Adams, Deakin Murphy and Carl Arnold all claimed a wicket each.

PAC coach Sam Knight said his players would be better for the experience.

“Full credit to Scotch, they played extremely well,” Knight said.

“They got off to a good start but I thought we pegged it back quite well.

PAC’s Carl Arnold bowls to Scotch’s Matthew Dixon during the Messenger Bowl Twenty20 school cricket final. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Even though we didn’t get the win, it’s a great learning experience, to play under that pressure.

“Even though we lost six wickets really early, we still did really well to get to 113 in response.”

The schools were almost forced to wait until next year to battle for the 2020 Messenger Bowl title.

But with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, play was able to get underway on Wednesday.

Neither school had ever won a Messenger Bowl title.

PAC had played in two finals before this year, losing to Rostrevor in 2008 and then Adelaide High in 2014, but it’s Scotch’s first appearance in the final.

Both sides earned the right to play for the cup after ending the five-round campaign top of their respective groups.