Date-stamped : 27 Apr1998 - 10:18
ADELAIDE GRADE CRICKET GRAND FINAL
UNIVERSITY v TEA TREE GULLY
At Adelaide Oval, March 21, 22 1998. 

University won on the first innings by 77 runs. 

Toss: University.

University, thanks to good catching and tight bowling won
their third A grade premiership in six seasons over Tea Tree
Gully who themselves were appearing their second Grand
Final in three seasons after winning the title in 1995-96.

The two sides had some changes to make from their Semi
Final teams with University replacing Mableson in their
line-up with opening bowler Nick Roberts, who had
recovered from injury and Tea Tree Gully had returning
from State duty Martin Faull, fresh from a maiden Sheffield
Shield century against New South Wales and Peter McIntyre
the two time Australian Test leg-spinner. These players
replaced captain-coach Greg Faull, who badly injured a
shoulder diving for a catch in the Semi-Final  and the
medium-pacer Christian Seigele who was unlucky to lose
his place as he dismissed Paul Nobes in the Semi Final match.

University, batting first in very oppressive heat on a very
flat Adelaide Oval pitch which had hosted a Rugby League
match just seven days before, lost Kimber inside the first
hour, but batted well to lunch thanks to the aggressive
batting of Webber and solid accumulation from Rice. The
partnership yielded 85, the biggest of the match and at 100
for one a change came over the game as McIntyre trapped
the left handed Rice in front sweeping. Off the next delivery
Simon Williamson was brilliantly stumped down the leg side
off a flipper and in McIntyre's next over Webber, who had
played very well for his 58 essayed a drive and holed out to
mid-on. 100 for one had become 105 for four and Tea Tree
Gully were back in the game. Cameron Williamson, the
skipper then featured in two rebuilding partnerships as he
added a valuable 39 with Smith and 28 with Cunningham and
when he left after a two and a half hour stay of 22, University
were 7/174. That they got to a score of over 200 was thanks
to a last wicket stand of 18 between Roberts and Wright of
which Wright batted for half an hour without scoring. Peter
McIntyre bowled particularly well in unseasonally hot
conditions to take 6/61 from 31.4 overs, it was the second
time he had taken a "six for" in an Adelaide Grade Final.

Tea Tree Gully had half an hour to survive the day and lost
Kelton in the third over, to a loose shot for nought.
Nightwatchman Van Kempen stayed with Faull until stumps
leaving Tea Tree Gully 174 to win with nine wickets in hand.
Next morning Van Kempen went in the second over and
following that Thomas and Faull batted well for a time adding
25 until Thomas played across one from Smith. Fellow left
hander Russack was also trapped in front for just four, but
the crucial wicket to fall in the morning session was that of
Faull who drove at an away swinger and edged to slip, for 47,
twenty minutes before lunch. The lunch score of 91 for five
soon became 97 for eight as the Tea Tree Gully middle order
disintigrated. Despite a solid, unbeaten 21 from stand-in captain
and keeper Darren Hall, Tea Tree Gully fell 77 runs short and
were dismissed just beyond the mid way point of day two.
Medium pacer Michael Smith, who was absent when Tea Tree
Gully defeated University in the minor round, bowled a
consistent line and was well supported by Nick Roberts
and Scott Cunningham, who mopped up the tail.

David Hookes Medalist: Michael Smith. 

Close of play scores:
First day, Tea Tree Gully 30-1 (M.P. Faull 19*, L.VanKempen 7*)

<END> Contributed by Lawrie Colliver (colliver@ozemail.com.au)