The opening day of the South Australian Cricket Association’s (SACA) annual Country Cricket Championships week provided the Murray Districts/Barrier (MDB) side with an up and down start.
Playing the Barossa and Light team, MDB batted first but were in early trouble after Greenock quick James Fowler claimed a hat-trick. From 4/16 to 8/81 they were in danger of being bundled out for under 100.
North Bulldog Ben Jurd got a start, batting at number three, before being dismissed for 18 off 34 (with one four) while keeper/batter with SA Outbacks experience Tobias Hack (18 off 25 with one for and a six) and Mackenzie Attard (13 off 11 with two fours) both also got starts but didn’t convent.
It was left to Berri’s Brad Rosenzweig’s 75 with the support of Mallee lad Shilo Dabinett to resurrect the innings, with a 112-run ninth wicket stand. The MDB side was finally dismissed for 198 in the 46th over.
In reply, the Barossa team were also in early trouble. At 3/37 when their captain, and SA Outbacks captain for the past two national tournaments, Coby Cornish was dismissed.
Jurd, bowling his medium pacers, had already dismissed third generation SACA country championship player, Jack Mosey, caught behind for four. Surprisingly, he only bowled the one spell of four overs and finished with figures of 1/23.
Barossa recovered to be 4/143, before losing three quick wickets to be behind the game at 7/161.
Then, teenagers Jack Davies and Jack Ryan came together with the Barossa and Light still needing 38 runs at the fall of the seventh wicket, for a-run-a-ball for victory.
Jack Ryan, in his first senior country cup match at 16, took SACA first grade quick from Tea Tree Gully Evan Gregoric down for three straight boundaries in the 47th over. Harry Davies hit a huge six – his second of the afternoon – to inch his side closer to victory.
Both Ryan and Davies made 21 not out and turned a tough run chase into a brilliant win, with two overs to spare.
The fifth MDB player selected for this tournament from Broken Hill Michael Maalste was a late withdrawal with a calf injury.
