Peter Argent, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
WNBL
In her second game back from a knee reconstruction, Stephanie Talbot (Kadina) played a vital role in the Adelaide Lightning’s third successive victory at the 36ers Arena on Saturday evening.
Talbot came off the bench and ignited the Lightning in the first half against the Melbourne Boomers, with eight points, seven rebounds, a couple of assists, three steals and a blocked shot.
The hosts led by nine points, 42-33, at the long interval.
A late charge by the Boomers got them within three points of the Lightning but a critical defensive rebound by Talbot enabled her side to score the final six points of the contest and win by nine.
She finished with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
While the Lightning will finish out of the play-offs, Talbot has lifted the season out of the doldrums and her form is a great boost for the Australian Opals, who have booked a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
State domestic cricket
The South Australian Redbacks’ one-day season finished with a win against the Queensland Bulls at Karen Rolton Oval last Wednesday, February 14.
Chasing down the Bulls’ reasonable total of 218, Thomas Kelly (Bute connections) arrived at the batting crease with the Redbacks in early trouble at 2/44.
He produced a 119-run second wicket stand with Nathan McSweeney, who was dismissed just after making a half century.
Kelly was dismissed for 81, having smashed eight boundaries and three sixes in a match-winning innings.
The Redbacks won their first 50-over game of the Marsh Cup by five wickets with 35 balls remaining.
Amazingly despite this effort, Kelly wasn’t picked for the Sheffield Shield match which started on Friday.
SACA men’s first grade
After dominating on day one, Sturt had to work hard for its outright victory against Prospect in the second innings.
The Pirates made a gallant total of 250, from 72.4 overs.
Wickets were evenly spread around with all-rounder Corey Kelly (Bute connections), chiming in with 2/45 from 14 overs.
The Blues chased down the target of 53 in 5.2 overs T Kelly was the sole wicket to fall, dismissed for 32 off 21 balls.
SACA men’s second grade
Callum Agnew (Curramulka) played a big role in West Torrens’ ultimately frustrating run chase against Prospect at the Park 25 number two ground on Saturday.
Needing 282 for victory, the Eagles were all out on 257.
Agnew was the backbone of the Eagles’ innings, batting at number three.
He was the seventh player dismissed, making 89 runs including 10 boundaries.
SACA women’s second grade
West Torrens could only manage 67 against Adelaide University, with skipper Mackenzee McCauley (Maitland) her team’s top scorer with 19 from 40 deliveries, including a pair of boundaries.
In reply, Uni secured the runs in 13.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.
McCauley sent down 5.1 overs of leg spin, finishing with a respectable 0/23.
SACA Under 16 Red
West Torrens staved off outright defeat in the penultimate round of the competition, being 9/111 in the second innings — still 27 runs behind the Northern Jets’ first innings total of 8/166.
The Eagles were bundled out for just 28 in the first dig.
Harry Rennie (Kadina) top scored with eight and was not out at the end.
Brodie Hines (Wallaroo) was the Eagles’ topscorer in the second innings, with 21 including three fours, while Angus Petherick (Kadina) helped out with 13.
SACA Under 14
Cash Meyers (Ardrossan) collected three pivotal wickets and effected a run out late in the day, in West Torrens’ thrilling eight-run win against Northern Districts.
After producing a competitive total of 204, the Eagles bowled out the Jets for 196.
Meyers, who secured the winning wicket, bowled 11.4 overs, including a pair of maidens and finished with 3/32.
Related story: Impressive return by Steph Talbot
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 20 February 2024.
