by Aerie » Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:21 pm
2 of the last 3 and 3 of the last 8 one day premierships for West Torrens. Kensington have also won 3 in this period.
Another fast start for the Eagles, this time with the ball. Buckingham had Winter out for a duck and then Sean Hunt's awkward bounce had the state trio of McInerney, McSweeney and Scott in the sheds and Glenelg in all sorts at 4/17. Glenelg showed plenty of fight from this point on with Higgins and Bullimore slowly edging Glenelg back in to the game. 200 would have seemed a nice dream at one point, but Bullimore made it a reality with a century and Glenelg's 211 gave them something to defend on a good deck at Karen Rolton Oval. The openers, Buckingham 3/30 and Hunt 3/33, both off 10, the most effective bowlers.
Smith's fast start had the Eagles above the required run rate early, but he charged McSweeney, missed, and Glenelg got their big wicket with not too much damage on the board. By the time Drew edged Conway and the leg spinner Bowering outsmarted Manenti and Davidson, the tides had turned, and Glenelg probably had their noses in front with the score on 4/83 and the spin duo of Bowering and McSweeney starting to put pressure on the Eagles batsman. At the other end, Nielsen, opening in place of the injured Bailey Capel, was steady and the game was in his hands. Not for the first time this season, Reggie Els came to the crease and began rebuilding the innings with Nielsen. Els brought energy to the crease and was able to tick the scoreboard over. The required run rate remained in the 4's and the Eagles went to the final drinks break with the momentum.
Not long after drinks, the sprinklers popped up at the RAH end and the comical scenes of players holding the sprinklers so they'd spray away from the centre of the oval, as someone tried to find the tap to turn them off. 10 minutes later and someone finally found the tap. Play was delayed for about 30 minutes. 60 odd runs to get in 14 overs. Nielsen faced out a maiden from Doggett, then Conway bowled a tight over and a run out chance here and there could've had Glenelg with a chance, but in reality, Nielsen and Els had it covered, never allowing the required run rate to push above 5, and as Nielsen celebrated a brilliant century, then Els celebrated his 50 with a lofted drive over mid-off to tie the scores. Another Eagles premiership, the 7th senior premiership for Mark Harrity as coach and West Torrens champions Kelvin Smith and Daniel Drew as players. Cricket is just a game you play with your mates and sometimes for your mates. Today's was an example of the latter. A high quality game between two high quality teams.
