Ten measly minutes. That’s how close the ACT Comets came to holding on for a well-earned draw against South Australia this week, in a Toyota 2nd XI clash at EPC Solar Park in Phillip.
After bringing some honest truths and brutal realities back from their innings defeat to Western Australia at the WACA earlier this month, the ACT side was determined to mark the Comets first true home game in Canberra in nearly a decade with a much-improved performance.
And they looked on track to do exactly that, until fast bowler Sam Skelly gave a fine caught behind within sight of Stumps on the final day. After he and ACT skipper Hanno Jacobs had valiantly held off everything the South Australians could muster in that last half an hour, their last-wicket partnership and with it, the match, was over.
Ten more minutes was all they needed.
Earlier on the fourth day, SA declared their second innings closed on 8/266, leaving the ACT with a target of 325 to win.
And it looked a very good declaration when the Comets lost their first three wickets cheaply, and were still in trouble at 5/43, before the lower order led by Jacobs began to build partnerships and confidence as they batted for longer and longer.
He and wicketkeeper Mikey McNamara added 69 for the 8th wicket, and Jacobs and Benji Floros put on another 61 for the 9th wicket.
But Jacobs was left stranded in the end, at the non-strikers end unbeaten on 73 when no.11 Skelly was caught behind, the ACT all out for 213, providing SA with a 111-run win.
“Really proud that we got to the last session, I think we were only a few overs from the end. After being in the position we were, I’m just really proud of the way they held on,” Comets head coach Jono Dean said post-match.
“A really big thing for us this week was competing and being really hard to beat. I think the fact that we stood up and we didn’t just fold in that middle session, there. We could easily have been all out before Tea.
“There were some great signs, and there’s been some really good performances this week.”
Comets captain Jacobs lead from the front with scores of 60 and 73* to go with his five wickets for the match, Scott Murn made a very handy first innings 57 following on from his 90 against WA a fortnight ago, opener Jack Sanson made a first innings 54 as well.
Skelly’s 5-68 in SA’s first innings really set the tone for the attack, and he took two more in the second innings to finish with seven for the match. Young legspinner Kai Brunker bowled some impressive spells across the four days too.
The Comets players will all head back to ACT Premier Cricket for the rest of 2023, with a little bit of time before their next match, when they host Tasmania here in Canberra in January.
Toyota 2nd XI Competition:
South Australia 344 (Sam Skelly 5-68, Scott Murn 3-65) and 8-declared/266 (Hanno Jacobs 3-30) defeated ACT Comets 286 (Jacobs 60, Murn 57, Jack Sanson 54) and 213 (Jacobs 73*) by 111 runs at EPC Solar Park, in Philip
Article by Brett McKay
Banner image: ACT Comets Skipper Hanno Jacobs batting against SA at Phillip. Image courtesy Maun Luke Photography.
Content image: ACT Comet Jack Sanson batting against SA at Phillip. Image courtesy Maun Luke Photography.
Image below: Conclusion of play at EPC Solar Park, ACT Comets v South Australia.