Thousands in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall give heroes’ welcome to SA’s Sheffield Shield drought-breakers
For the second time in just days, SA’s all-conquering cricketers have been mobbed by adoring fans.
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They came from far and wide to celebrate with their heroes and signal the end of a near three-decade Sheffield Shield drought for South Australia.
More than 2000 joyous cricket fans gathered in the Rundle Mall in the heart of Adelaide on Monday to party with SA’s Shield stars and get their hands on not one trophy, but two.
With SA Premier and self-confessed “huge cricket fan’’ Peter Malinauskas taking to the stage to publicly acknowledge the players and their victorious first-year coach Ryan Harris, SA unveiled the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup trophies - the first time it has achieved the double.
But the Shield was the one SA most coveted, having last won it in 1995-96.
“I was still at school and that week, when we were playing in the final (against Western Australia), I had a little transistor radio that I put in my breast pocket with a wire that ran down my sleeve and I sat in class listening to the live broadcast on ABC,’’ Mr Malinauskas said.
“On the last day, we finished school and I got into the car with Mum and a mate and said, ‘we’re going down to Adelaide Oval, no questions asked’.
“We zoomed down and watched (tail-end batsmen) Shane George and Peter McIntyre survive what felt like an eternity in order to be able to win that Shield final.
“Little did I know that it was a rare moment, that we would have to wait another 29 years for it to happen again.
“So this victory is important not just for cricket but to inspire another generation of South Australians.’’
The entire SA squad was presented on stage amid music, streamers and confetti, with the biggest cheers saved for star batsmen Alex Carey, a Croweater, and Jason Sangha, a New South Welshman, who made centuries in the second innings of the run chase against Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval to steer the home side to a historic victory.
The pair combined for a matchwinning, fourth-wicket partnership of 202 as SA pulled off the greatest fourth-innings run chase in Shield final history to pass its target of 269 for the loss of six wickets.
Sangha finished unbeaten on 126 while Test wicketkeeper Carey made 105.
Harris described the win as “amazing’’ but said the enormity of what the team had achieved still hadn’t really sunk in.
“I’m just so proud of the group but I don’t think it will really hit me just what an achievement it is until I go away on holidays in a week’s time and get the chance to sit down and reflect on it all,’’ he said.
“To do what we’ve done for SA and make the people happy is a great thing.’’
Long-time SA cricket fans Malcolm Ashwood and Jim Congdon were among the wellwishers in the Mall and described the celebratory scenes as “fantastic’’.
“It’s an amazing feeling to get some silverware after what’s been such a long drought,’’ Ashwood said.
“We used to celebrate winning a session, nevertheless a game, and now to win the Sheffield Shield is quite incredible.’’
Congdon, who attends most matches with his 12-year-old daughter Zali, said the long overdue success was “a credit to all the players and coaching staff.’’
“It’s just been a great season for SA cricket,’’ he said.
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Originally published as Thousands in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall give heroes’ welcome to SA’s Sheffield Shield drought-breakers
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