After suspecting they were victims of daylight robberies, South Australia’s bowlers turned into night-time stranglers of NSW in their Sheffield Shield match.
The Blues were 9-227 at stumps on Saturday’s opening day at Adelaide Oval after a final-session collapse in the day-night fixture.
From a powerful 1-147, NSW struggled from dusk onwards: they lost 8-77 against a disciplined Redbacks bowling attack inspired by captain Johan Botha.
The South African-born spinner took 5-34 from 29 miserly overs, quick Joe Mennie claimed 2-36, while paceman Chadd Sayers and Daniel Worrall picked up a wicket each.
Blues opener Nick Larkin top-scored with 78 and first drop Scott Henry made 56 – they put on 110 for the second wicket before both fell to rash shots.
Henry smacked an innocuous Botha ball straight to short cover to end his knock.
And Botha, in his next over, dismissed Larkin when the polished right-hander tried to cut a short, wide delivery but feathered an edge to wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman – one of the gloveman’s five catches on the day.
The dismissals were the first and second in a costly slide, and also placated a Redbacks outfit seething at having a string of lbw shouts refused earlier in the day.
The trend started in the third over when Ryan Carters appeared to be trapped plumb in front by Sayers, only for New Zealand umpire Wayne Knights to inexplicably decline the appeal.
Sayers’ mood didn’t improve in the middle session when he had two lbw shouts against Larkin rejected by the same umpire – replays showed the batsman was extremely fortunate to survive both.
Larkin kept his cool and produced a patient 173-ball innings, highlighted by some sweet offside drives, until his untimely demise.
Botha and Mennie then turned the screws under lights, with the Redbacks seeking consecutive home wins, after downing Queensland by eight wickets in their season opener.
davros
Guest
that's right Dan Botha is like a master chess player /ringmaster using every one like pawns ...all revolving around making himself look good ....while he is going well he takes every opportu nity in favourable cond ....as soon as the going gets tough and the whips start cracking ...he hides himself so as to not dent his figures (completely understandable as he is a cricketing mercenary/ gun for hire and his future employment depends on this ) Many times ive seen him hide himself and throw others to the wolves when the going gets too hard
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
Botha only hogged the ball because he was taking wickets. Last match Zampa did well, as he also did in Matador. I've watched plenty of Botha's bowling and I don't see the issue with his action to be honest.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Don,You can't really fairly compare Botha to Ajmal. Ajmal is the best chucker in the world. Botha is nowhere near the quality of chucker that Ajmal is.
davros
Guest
yes Don there is that elephant in the room . Who will be brave enough to call it ? I thought the idea of the Sheffield shield was to prepare young ozzies to play cricket for there country ...I just cannot agree with oseas imports
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Considering we have a pool of batsman that struggle against spin, surely a quality spinner in the Shield is a good way rectify this? You don't become a better player of spin by facing seamers
Don Freo
Guest
And Botha bowls like Ajmal.
Nudge
Guest
What that South Australian cricket has hardly had a player represent Australia for 8 years and now they have 6 ( I forget Sayers )knocking on the door.
JGK
Roar Guru
It might be positive for the competition (we haven't discussed his action yet) but it patently bad for Australian cricket.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Also, that aggressive declaration he made in the first round would set a great example to the team. Go in for the kill not just be happy with a draw. For the wider point of non-Australians in the Shield, I don't mind having one a team. The issue is when they're a keeper or a spinner. But having said that, I think Botha has demonstrated his being part of SA is positive for the competition.
Nudge
Guest
JGK I understand your point, but remember this. Before Botha came, SA was a basket case on the field, and a complete rabble with no work ethic or professionalism off the field. The place was a bomb site. Since he has been there they have missed the shield final basically in the final session of the past 2 years. But most importantly these kids have been shown the right work ethic and what's required at this level that finally there are some young redbacks that are being talked about for the national team,Richardson, Cooper, ferguson, Head, and Zampa. He has helped change SA cricket from the basket case they were, to a professional outfit and the Aussie team is about to reap the rewards. I think his job is done now and think this will be his final year.
JGK
Roar Guru
Actually you've missed my point. Botha shouldn't be playing at all.
Quitwhinging
Guest
This is professional cricket, not some game in the backyard. The aim is to win. why take off a bowlers who is taking wickets, your logic is seriously flawed
JGK
Roar Guru
I have been saying this for a couple of years now but it is a disgrace that Johan Botha plays Shield, let alone as captain. Yesterday should have been a chance for Zampa to bowl a stack of overs but Botha hogged the ball.
Henry
Guest
Obviously your corespondent missed the the three NSW batsmen who wre given out when they should not have been. A Roar correspondent should at least show some pretence at objectivity