Association Report - Sunday 10th December 2000

With what was thought to be an under manned team to face the Southern Cricket association last Sunday, with players selected for the squad not being available or bothering to reply to their invitation, the Adelaide & Suburban Side stood tall and gave the Southern association a flogging. The win against Southern, the first since 1991-1992 season. At a time also that I am campaigning hard to have us accepted in the Myer Shield competition we proudly showed how we can beat the best of them.

We certainly held the perpetual trophy high and are now able to place in our presentation cabinet and make them try and get it off us.

Karl Gill (Coromandel Valley Ramblers) was selected as captain and started of on a positive and won the toss, electing to bat.

Andrew Rossi (South Road) and Russell King (Warradale) opened the batting and got us off to a positive start up until the 9th over when Rossi was dismissed for 19. King was then joined by Paul McGowran (Keswick) and took our score to 75 after 24 overs before King was sensationally Caught & Bowled when on 23. Not long after this McGowran was caught LBW for 33 with a mini collapse about to start, Darren Kelsey (South Park) stumped for a duck and Scott Reid (Sheidow Park) sensationally stumped also for 10.

Skipper Gill starting to make his presence felt with a couple of hard hitting 4's. Reid's departure with the score at 97, saw Darren Cheek (Coromandel) come to the crease and worked busily with Gill, until Gill departed caught in the outfield for 23 and a good 20 run partnership. Brad Williamson (Keswick) was next and smacked a 4 but importantly another 18 run partnership occurred with Cheek before he was bowled by a beauty. Cheek was next to go for 18, the score at 162 and 7 overs to bat. Mike Johnson (Western Youth) was on 20 n.o. batting beautifully and Mark Eglinton (Coromandel) joined him continuing to keep the runs flowing. After Johnson was dismissed for 32 the last batsmen David Sampson (ICC Sharks), who normally bats 4 for his club side, for the first time in his life came in at no. 11, batted superbly and was left 8 n.o. in the 49th over when Eglinton was caught for 14. Innings finished at 196.

After a nice lunch put on for the boys by the Southern Association the strategy of Gill was pretty simple lets bowl tight, straight up and down the wicket, field tight and have them require at least 5 runs an over target once there is 20 overs to go.

And that they did!

The openers got off to a 36 run start, Johnson picking up the first wicket. With the guys bowling very tight the runs slowly built up at the pace we were happy with, not them! The wickets slowly dropping most caught while they were trying to break out of being bogged down by the teams tightness. Then the big wicket came, Deon Hibberd who represented Adelaide & Suburban at our last match was out caught behind from absolutely classic leg spin bowling. The ball, an in-swinging delivery with the magic bite of a leg spin, beating him hands down.

This then saw a collapse with Eglinton grabbing another wicket caught behind and stumped in the same action by Rossi, followed by Eglinton fielding his own bowling splendidly and throwing down the stumps for a classic run out. Whilst this was going on McGoworan was bowling at his best. Thought to be the 6th bowler in the side he bowled as if the number 1 and picked up a wicket himself whilst placing a lot of pressure on the batsmen. Southern Slumping to 7 /101 at the 33rd over. Gill's plan right on track 17 overs left, 5.5 runs an over to get.

Whilst the next partnership reaped 53 runs McGowran put an end to that with Kelsey taking a great outfield catch. 3 overs to go, 18 balls, 18 runs to get, 2 wickets in hand. Gill had 2 overs left from opening bowler King. Who incidentally had the figures of 1/16 off 8 overs from his opening spell. After his over which only saw 4 singles come from it, it was 2 overs 14 runs to protect. The big decision was who to bowl the final over at the Southern end. After consultation Gill decided the Leg spinner Eglinton's was our man. He had bowled 9 and had one over left. This could have been a win or lose decision. One or two miss directed deliveries, could have seen the end of our winning dream. But there was no need to feel this as he had already bowled superbly. That he did, every bowl tight, putting them under plenty of pressure, starting with 2 dot balls which then saw a batsmen take on Cheek's arm, RUN OUT! YES the boys cheered. Only 3 runs came off that over. King had 11 runs to protect but just needed 3 deliveries to have another wicket caught behind by keeper Andrew Rossi who picked up 3 catchs and kept well.

SOUTHERN ALL OUT 188!!!!

The beer then flowed and Karl Gill proudly accepted the passing over of the trophy.

COGRATULATIONS FELLAS!! You proudly carried the Adelaide & Suburban name. Paul Mc Gowran then took out the player of the match award, which was a very hard decision to make with King and Eglinton every much the winners also.

But we only had one prize to give. With thanks going to the Adelaide Cricket Warehouse who donated a $50 voucher to the Man of the Match. Thanks Adelaide Cricket Warehouse.

Thanks also to Kewick & Sheidow Park cricket club for coming along and also supporting the boys from the boundary it's very much appreciated.

Darren Cheek
Association Team Manager