Harman, Blackmore turn it around for Aces

 

 

 

 

 

After a dismal 24 hours of weather leading into the series, the La Trobe ground was presented in remarkably good condition and a healthy crowd braved a chilly evening to see the Aces overcome a sluggish start that conceded two runs to South Australia in the top of the first – on a Cresswell single, a throwing mishap and a pass ball.

 

While South Australia starter Paul Mildren was on song in the first, his counterpart in Adam Blackley took a rugged first innings to settle and was relieved in the third by Matthew Blackmore, who conjured up another outstanding outing that kept the visitors scoreless through the middle innings.

 

Brad Harman put it to Mildren (below) with a massive first-pitch moonshot in the top of the second – a blast into the teeth of a strong breeze that still cleared the leftfield wall with ease. The shot may have unsettled the South Australian ace, with his fourth innings less than inspiring as he conceded two walks, a HPB, a double and a single that – combined with a defensive error – produced three runs and a two-run lead for the Aces.

 

 

While Chris Lawson and Dushan Ruzic held the Aces over the next four, South Australia was unable to mount anything in offence against Blackmore, although there was a momentary glimmer of hope as the visitors landed a couple on base in the top of nine. But closer Russell Spear was up to the task of drawing a ground ball and icing the game for the Aces.

 

In difficult hitting conditions, Cresswell and Gladstone picked up two knocks each for South Australia. Elliot Biddle collected two hits for the Aces, Harman delivered a decisive blow while Russell, Lawman and Tamburrino hit the ball with authority.

 

With the Aces keen to wrap it up in two, South Australia desperate to send the series into Sunday and with weather on the improve, all expectations are for a hotly-contested Game Two on Saturday night – same time, same place.

 

South Australia: J.Cresswell 2, S.Gladstone 2, M.Smith

Victoria: E.Biddle 2, S.Wearne, B.Tamburrino, A.Russell, B.Harman (home run), M.Lawman

South Australia: R.Murphy, S.Gladstone

Victoria: A.Russell 2, S.Wearne, B.Harman, E.Biddle

South Australia:

P.Mildren 3.1 inn, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

C.Lawson 2.2 inn, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 SO

D.Ruzic 2 inn, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Victoria:

A.Blackley 3.1 inn, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO

M.Blackmore 5 inn, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

R.Spear 0.2 inn, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO