A GROUP of the South East’s most talented cricketers were lucky enough to play in the historic Les Favell-Don Woon cricket game at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Sunday.
The likes of Dion Stratford and Jake Schutz faced off for the Woon team against Les Favell Foundation players Matt McInerney, Adam Kuhl and Connor Prior in an exhibition one-day game, with some of the state’s best on show.
The foundation is in memory of former Australian Test cricketer Les Favell, while Stratford’s side was named after Australian Country Cricket legend Don Woon.
The match has over two decades of history and was previously played on the hallowed Adelaide Oval turf.
Before this year, the team of the Senior Country Cricket Carnival played the Favell line up, but the fixture was changed to give the Outbacks team preparation for the competition.
After a hard-fought contest, the younger Les Favell side won the match by 47 runs.
The victors batted first and made 270 before restricting the Woon team to 223.
McInerney was the best of the South East players with 37 runs, while Prior was elevated into the top order and made 12.
Kuhl was a contributor with the ball for the Favell team, while Woon players Stratford and Schutz made starts, but could not convert in the run chase.
Stratford said his team was on track to chase the score down, but the target proved elusive, while he was also impressed with the way Kuhl performed with the ball.
“Adam bowled really well,” he said.
“We were always on track, but the run rate sort of got away from us.
“We were sitting alright needing five an over from the last 15, but even when we had wickets hand, we just could not go on with it.”
The match not only provided Stratford and Schutz strong preparation for their Outbacks’ duties, it also gave youngsters Kuhl and Prior invaluable exposure to high-level cricket.
They played alongside other aspiring young regional players, who also hope to reach the heights of Adelaide district cricket.
Stratford said it was a special game to play in and provided his side with a high-class opponent in preparation for the upcoming Australian Country Cricket Championships.
“It certainly is an honour to play in the match,” he said.
“It was quality cricket and it is great to come up against guys of the ability that you play with in the Australian country championships.”
