DIXON THE HERO
THE Sheffield Shield’s top wicket- taker Chadd Sayers has hauled South Australia back into contention in their match against Queensland after a topsy- turvy day at Adelaide Oval, in which 14 wickets fell.
South Australia conceded a 62- run first innings’ deficit but Sayers claimed 3- 17 from 15 overs and in the process became the first bowler to pass 50 wickets for the summer.
Queensland ended at 4- 90, boasting a 152- run advantage after South Australia collapsed to be all out for 156 midway through day two.
Queensland were in deep trouble at 4- 45 soon after tea, only for Marnus Labuschagne to defy the in- form SA attack with an unbeaten 40.
SA began the day in a promising position at 0- 35, after Queensland had been dismissed for 218 on Saturday.
But the Redbacks’ recent poor from with the bat continued, highlighted by a collapse that saw four top- order batsman dismissed for the addition of just five runs in an innings that included five ducks.
Aside from openers Sam Raphael ( 17) and Jake Weatherald ( 39), it was left to Jake Lehmann ( 59) to help the home side avoid complete embarrassment.
Young medium- pacer Jack Wildermuth starred with the ball for Queensland claiming an impressive 5- 40, while paceman Peter George returned 3- 11 from 15 overs against his home state. SUBURBAN Parks bowler Justin Dixon may be pushing for a promotion in his team’s batting order after his late heroics in Friday’s Townsville Cricket Twenty 20 grand final.
Dixon’s quickfire 14 runs from four deliveries propelled Sub Parks to victory against Saints, chasing down Saints’ 141- run target with three balls to spare.
Sub Parks had little time to celebrate their seventh straight T20 crown, playing Saints the next day in day one of their two- dayer at JCU “He ( Justin Dixon) really seems to enjoy those type of moments and he was exceptional again on Saturday.” Oval. And it was Dixon who again wielded the willow for Sub Parks, hitting a team- best 53 runs to guide his team to 178.
“We’ve known for a long time that Justin is a decent batsman,” Sub Parks captain Mark Taviani said.
“He’s always knocking on the door to move up the order, and it’s obviously very handy to have someone like Justin during a situation like the one we had on Friday.
“He really seems to enjoy those type of moments and he was exceptional again on Saturday.”
Taviani expects another tight contest against Saints given the relatively slow speed of JCU Oval’s outfield.
“We’d always like to gather 20- 30 runs more, but we had a bit of a delayed start,” he said.
“The outfield’s a bit slowish as well, so it all comes down to how we bowl next weekend.”
Brad Stout collected an impressive five wickets for Saints and Matt Burton took three.
Sub Parks have secured top spot on the A grade ladder, and with it a guaranteed finals’ spot.
However, Taviani said maintain- ing form was his team’s biggest focus. Subs have lost just the single twodayer this season, against Wests earlier this month, and possess the competition’s top three run scorers Riley Ward, Sean Dananher and Taviani – along with top wicket taker Dixon.
Wanderers put themselves in a strong position against Brothers at John McCulloch Oval by finishing the day with 226 runs.
Wanderers’ No. 3 Philip Angel provided a solid platform with 43, before Matt Ahern ( 55), Damien Meek ( 38) and Joshua Masel ( 29) kept things ticking over.
Wests will be chasing a crucial result at 0/ 22 this weekend after bowling Norths for 149 at Mick Downey Oval.