1. One million dollars raised
While it was entertaining watching footballers trying to make runs and take wickets, the whole day was about raising money for South Australia’s Bushfire Appeal. The South Australian public got behind the event, with 34,000 fans watching the match at Adelaide Oval and the community raising over one million dollars for those impacted by the fires. You can still donate to the cause here, or you can bid for one of the players kits here.
Over a $1 million raised in front of more than 34,000 fans at Adelaide Oval. Today was a bloody good day! ❤️🙏
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) February 2, 2020
(Donations still open: https://t.co/0HwexFKkcR) pic.twitter.com/x7ClQnd6mp
2. Rashid Khan’s opening spell
After Port openers Travis Boak and Connor Rozee went big in the first six overs, Adelaide desperately needed a breakthrough and there was only one man to turn to – Rashid Khan. On only his second ball, he bowled Rozee (29 runs off 20 balls) to break the opening partnership. In his second over, he fielded the ball off his own bowling and threw down the stumps, running out the dangerous Boak, who hit 44 runs off 23 balls to get Port off to a flier.
3. Clurey v Richardson battle
In the 12th over, it was Crows cricketer Kane Richardson up against Port footballer Tom Clurey. Clurey lifted Richardson over the rope three times, finishing the over with three sixes and one four. However, Richardson had the last laugh by bowling Clurey and ending his innings on 29.
4. Alex Carey, the outfielder..?
Strikers fans are used to seeing Alex Carey behind the stumps, but on Sunday, he passed on those duties to Bridget Patterson and Matt Crouch. In the 15th over, Rory Sloane came onto bowl and on his first ball, Phil Salt (20 off 9) smacked it long to the boundary, only for a screamer to be taken by a diving Carey. Unfortunately for the Crows, Salt was replaced by Australian Test batsman Travis Head (43 off 13) who hit four sixes off the first four balls he faced.
5. Seedsman slips
Port dominated the first innings, finishing 7/231 and setting the Crows up with a massive run chase. The Crouch brothers opened and tried to get the Crows off to a good start, until Brad fell for seven runs. In came Paul Seedsman at first drop and as one of Adelaide’s most in-form batsmen, the Crows needed him to fire. His stay at the crease wasn’t long though, he only added one to the scoreboard before taking off for a run, slipping mid-pitch and getting runout by Kane Farrell.
6. Walker wobbles then steadies
When Taylor Walker came out into the middle, it took him a couple of balls to connect. Port Adelaide made light of the situation, putting three players in slips when Walker was on strike. When he did finally get a run, Walker raised his bat in jest to the crowd. However, he was just warming up and in the 15th over, Walker hit Clurey for three sixes. In the 18th over, Port captain Tom Jonas sent Walker’s off-stump cartwheeling. The Crows No. 13 finished with 40.
Bit of a shaky start but the Texan settles with a two and salutes the crowd 😂Good sport, onya Tex! 👏 #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/0IZTg6UVEl
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) February 2, 2020
7. Late promise but eventual defeat
With only four overs remaining, Adelaide’s run rate was rising and they needed something special from their remaining batters – which included Strikers opener Jake Weatherald and Khan. Weatherald hit five runs before Rozee dove forward and took a blinder of a catch on the boundary. Rashid replaced him and hit two sixes before Head got him out for 14 and made the chase even more difficult. Despite Patterson hitting Farrell for four boundaries in the second last over, it was too late and the Crows went down by 14 runs.