Whyalla-Pirie in last ball thrilling tie. By John Warner
It was a rare tie-breaker under 40c heat between Whyalla and Port Pirie at Memorial Oval on Saturday.
All players waited with baited breath for Jacques Ferreria to bowl the last ball with Port Pirie needing two runs to win the match.
The last ball thriller turned to despair when Matt Thornton got an edge to fine leg.
Whyalla fielder Jarrad Dunbar returned the ball to skipper Greg Fiebig as quick as a flash as Thornton on 17 was run out attempting the second run.
Whyalla held on to record a draw in what was a classic struggle between two great teams in the extreme conditions.
Whyalla 9/188 from 50 overs drew with Port Pirie 9/188 from 50 overs in a memorable and entertaining game of cricket.
Both teams shared the points in the Beaurepaires Tyres Inter-City Clash.
Whyalla won the toss and decided to bat, putting Pirie in the field in the hot and trying conditions.
Feibig opened the innings with Dunbar adding 71 runs,when Fiebig 45 was caught by Laz Kovacevic bowled by Cameron Pine.
Scott Collison took up the challenge, pushing the ball around the oval.
That was until Dunbar departed 49 runs, caught by man of the match Tate Bradley, bowled by Simon Fuchs.
Jeremy Edson joined Collison making 28, next to depart, caught by Gabe Turci, bowled by Simon Fuchs.
Matt Quist joined Edson, looking a little uncomfortable as Bradley got his first wicket, with Edson departing for two runs.
Young top gun Josh Ackland played an ambitious shot and was caught by Kovacevic as Bradley now had two scalps.
Schalk Ferreria joined Quist who was hoping to stop the rot when Matt Thornton claimed his first victim, with Quist leg before wicket for 12.
Sam Lewis joined Ferreria for a short period of time until Ferreria departed with four runs, caught by Kovacevic bowled by Bradley.
David Burd joined Lewis who was settling in for a long stay until Burd, one run, was stumped.
Jacques Ferreria joined Lewis as the overs were running out as Lewis, 16 runs from 18 balls was trying to force the pace.
He was caught by Bradley, bowled by Thornton, leaving Ferreria not 7, and Chris Beaty not out 0 as lunch was taken, with Whyalla 9/188 runs from 50 overs.
Pirie needed 189 runs to win from their 50 overs which equates to 3.78 runs an over.
Newcomers Dwayne Sedunary and Paul Martin came out after lunch at Weeroona Bay Football Club as play resumed.
Whyalla bowlers kept the Pirie batsmen honest making them earn every run, and after 16 overs Edson got the break through as Sedunary 18, was clean bowled.
Last season's centurion Andy Fuchs joined Martin as Edson struck pay dirt again, getting Martin 24, caught by Ryan Jacobs above his head.
This brought veteran Simon Fuchs to join his brother Andy in an effort to steer Port Pirie to victory.
Simon Fuchs made seven runs caught by Ackland, giving Jacobs his first wicket of three for the match on debut.
Bradley did not stay long trying to king hit Jacobs out of the park, stumped by Fiebig for two runs.
Pirie was looking to Gabe Turci and Fuchs to go into attack mode with 83 from 84 balls for victory.
Kovacevic made 22 and was caught by Ackland bowled by Lewis.
Still needing another 31 from 30 balls, it was now on the shoulders of James Pavlich and Turci to get Pirie over the line as Pavlich was bowled Beaty for two.
Six runs later Turci 25 runs, was caught by Ackland bowled Jacques Ferreria.
It all came down to the last overs from Ferreria and Quist having to stop Thornton and Pine from making the 22 runs required for victory.
Pirie edged closer until the last ball from Ferreria requiring two runs to win, but Pirie was denied a second run as Thornton 17 runs, was run out leaving the match all tied up, with Pine not out six,
It was great classic match between two old rivals with the result hedging on if Whyalla can beat Port Augusta in Quorn next weekend and in a fortnight if Port Pirie can beat Port Augusta at home.
Local Cricket was cancelled on Sunday due to the hot weather.
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