SACA Premier Cricket grand final preview and players to watch
A David and Goliath battle will headline three SACA Premier Cricket grand finals this weekend. See our full preview of the Division 1 match as well as our players to watch across all three clashes.
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One side has five Redbacks-contracted players, has been labelled a ‘super team’ and been so dominant that it has had a stranglehold on top spot all season.
The other boasts only one Redback and was in a titanic fight with a host of other clubs to avoid relegation from Division 1 of SACA Premier Cricket’s men’s First-Grade.
The two clubs’ contrasting journeys sets up a mouth-watering grand final at Karen Rolton Oval this weekend.
Minor premier Glenelg has a point to prove.
Illustrating its strength is that it has featured in all three major men’s grand finals this season but has yet to win any silverware.
The Seahorses lost the Twenty20 and One-Day Cup deciders to West Torrens and a third final against their nemesis loomed large before Port Adelaide upset the Eagles by four wickets in a two-day semi-final last week.
Glenelg easily accounted for Adelaide University in the other semi.
“We were pretty disappointed with our two efforts in the other grand finals, especially the T20 final, and we really want to bring home at least one of the three trophies that we’ve sought this season,’’ said Seahorses captain Jake Winter, whose club is chasing its first two-day title since 2012-13.
“I don’t think we are this super team that everyone might talk about but we feel that we have played really good cricket all year and probably deserve to win something.
“Everyone will say we are probably the favourites but we are just going to come out on the weekend and try to play the same way, stick to the basics, and hopefully it pays off for us.
“We know Port has some damaging players and depth with the ball and bat, so we will need to be on top of our game.’’
The talent-laden Seahorses have five current Redbacks on their list – batter Nathan McSweeney, all-rounders Liam Scott and Isaac Higgins (rookie) and fast bowlers Brendan Doggett and Harry Conway.
Adding to their all-star line-up is that the hard-hitting Winter and opening batter Connor McInerney have also played State cricket this season.
In contrast, the Magpies – who are zeroing in on their first two-day flag since 2013-14 – have only one current Redback, opening batter Jake Carder, who lost his spot in the State line-up late in the season.
However, they do have plenty of experience, with captain Cam Valente, Tom Andrews, who tied for this season’s Bradman Medal with Eagle Kelvin Smith, and Nick Benton having all represented SA at first-class level.
“This would be the strongest side that I’ve ever played against in grade cricket,’’ Valente said of Glenelg.
“Absolutely we’re the underdog but a few weeks ago we were fighting off relegation and now we’re in a grand final, so we’re just going to out there to try to play our best cricket and enjoy it.
“When you have good players in your team, like we do, anything is possible, like we showed when we were underdogs last week, so we certainly think we can win.
“Glenelg lost only one game (in the minor round to West Torrens) but, having lost the two (white-ball) grand finals, puts added pressure on them.’’
Port, which did not feature one homegrown Magpies player in its XI that beat Torrens, is full of big characters and plays with freedom, with Valente saying: “We have a pretty unique side with where we’ve all come from but when you look at the broader picture a lot of us have played a lot of cricket together, so it’s not like we have just been parachuting in from everywhere’’.
After a win, the Magpies are renowned for singing their club song with great gusto and animation, with Benton leading the
charge and Valente putting his own “spin’’ on things.
“One of our things is that you have to try to celebrate your wins and we certainly do that,’’ Valente said.
“We certainly have a lot of different characters but singing the team song the way we do is an incentive to try to win more games and I find it an enjoyable culture to be around.
“We are a very proud club, the players wear their hearts on their sleeves and we have people from all over Australia flying in to watch our game this weekend.’’
The two-day grand final starts at 10.30am on Saturday with play continuing on Sunday.
Glenelg – as the higher ranked team – only needs a draw to claim the premiership.
In Division 2, minor premier Sturt will host Adelaide, which upset Northern Districts in their semi-final last week.
The Blues and Buffalos have already earned promotion to Division 1 next season, with Woodville and East Torrens relegated to Division 2.
In Sunday’s women’s First-Grade grand final, minor premier Kensington will play West Torrens at Park 25.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DIVISION ONE
TOM ANDREWS
(Port Adelaide)
This season’s joint Bradman Medallist, along with West Torrens star Kelvin Smith, as the standout player in men’s Division 1, Andrews has impressed with both the bat and ball.
In the minor round, he made 560 runs at an average of 70, with three centuries, while taking 18 wickets with his left-arm orthodox spinners, often taking big scalps for his side.
Andrews displayed his all-round ability against West Torrens in the semi-final, making 44 with the bat and taking 3-33 with the ball, including the key wickets of Daniel Drew and Harry Nielsen.
CONOR MCINERNEY
(Glenelg)
McInerney has starred as an opening batter for Glenelg since arriving from Woodville for the 2023-2024 season and has come up big at the tail-end of the campaign.
With over 400 runs in two-day cricket for the Seahorses this season, McInerney was dominant in his side’s semi-final against Adelaide University, leading from the front at the top of the order with 93 off 150 balls.
LIAM SCOTT
(Glenelg)
Another top all-round talent in SACA Premier Cricket, Scott can win games off his own bat and with the ball.
Like McInerney, he has made more than 400 runs for the season, including a standout innings of 109 against Port Adelaide earlier in the campaign, making him a big threat for the side this weekend.
Scott also made a stellar 91 against Adelaide University in the semi-final after recovering from a bad ankle injury which prematurely ended his Redbacks season.
CAM VALENTE
(Port Adelaide)
Last season’s Bradman Medallist, all-rounder Valente has produced another standout campaign for the Magpies.
Valente, who can perform equally well with the ball and bat, has taken 40 wickets, including a match-turning spell of 4-46 against West Torrens in the semis.
DIVISION TWO
COREY KELLY
(Sturt)
Kelly has had a fantastic season for Sturt, helping the Blues dominate the Division 2 competition.
The all-rounder has been handy with the bat but does most of his damage with the ball, taking 32 wickets at an inexpensive rate with his consistent pace bowling.
THOMAS KELLY
(Sturt)
Sturt’s star batter, Redback Kelly should be set for a big grand final against Adelaide this weekend.
He tied for Division 2’s Sincock Medal and has scored multiple centuries in two-day cricket, including a recent 120 against Southern District.
Tallying 590 runs at the remarkable average of 98.33 this season, if Kelly gets off to a quick start at the crease the Buffalos will likely struggle to cause an upset.
SURAJ RAJESH
(Adelaide)
Arguably the most dominant player in Division 2 this season, top order batter Rajesh tied for the Sincock Medal with Thomas Kelly and has performed consistently all year, amassing 673 runs.
While he made just one in Adelaide’s upset semi-final win against Northern Districts, he could go a long way towards leading the Buffs to an upset against the Blues.
WOMEN’S FIRST GRADE
MAGGIE CLARK
(West Torrens)
One of the most exciting young prospects in SA cricket, Clark has proven handy with the bat and ball for the Eagles this season.
The emerging all-rounder has taken over 20 wickets for West Torrens and has also developed into a handy middle-to-top order batter, tallying several scores of over 30.
Clark had a quiet performance against Sturt in last week’s semi-final but looms as a big danger to Kensington in the grand final.
ELIZA DODDRIDGE
(Kensington)
A star leader for Kensington, Doddridge has impressed for the Browns yet again in 2023-2024 as a highly-skilled all-rounder
She has made 300 runs as an opening batter while also taking 20 wickets.
Doddridge captured 5-32 in a brilliant seven-over spell in the Browns’ round 14 clash against the Eagles.
AMANDA-JADE WELLINGTON
(West Torrens)
With Scorpions, Strikers and Australia experience, Eagles captain Wellington could single-handedly lead her side to silverware this weekend.
The star veteran can do damage with the bat at the top of the order for West Torrens or win a game with the ball.
She took a brilliant 4-8 from nine overs with her superb leg-spin to lead the Eagles to a remarkable semi-final victory against Sturt.
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