Adelaide - Victoria versus South Australia 2023

On 13 March we were once again off to the airport to travel on a Virgin flight to Adelaide where the annual Victoria versus South Australia veterans' cricket competition was to be held. Most of the team members stayed at the Arkaba Hotel at Fullarton.

The hotel provided comfortable accommodation, including a functional shower which was easy to use. There were many entertainment spaces near the hotel entrance foyer including the bistro and other restaurants, bars and gaming areas.

We knew that the Monday was the Labor Day (Moomba) holiday in Melbourne but did not realise until we went for a walk that it was also a public holiday in Adelaide - Adelaide Cup Day - and everything, including the local supermarket, was closed.  It was strange to wander around the empty streets. In the evening we had dinner in the bistro with members from the over 70s team and also the over 60s team.

Next morning members of the Victorian over 70s team who had stayed at the hotel met near the hotel lobby before travelling to the Kensington Gardens Cricket Club. We had played at this complex before but this time the weather was perfect for cricket while in 2019 it was raining.

The cricket club has three ovals set in a large park. Other sporting facilities include tennis courts and a bowls club. The over 70s played their match on the Ford Oval.

Team meeting where strategies for the game were discussed before the team moved to the Ford Oval to play the match. Members of the Victorian over 70s team included Kevin Lanigan (Captain), Ian Gibson (VC & Wk), Denis Brown, Robin Court, Jim Geltch, Barry Hopper, Ron Kasputtis, Peter Neville, Les Quarrell, Tim Spear, Robert White and Graeme Wilson.

Robin ready to play cricket

Victoria fielded first with Ronnie Kasputis and Robin opening the bowling.

Both bowlers bowled their eight overs tightly restricting the runs of the South Australian batters so that at the end of sixteen overs the score was around 40 runs. South Australia only managed to score 113 runs in their innings. After lunch Victoria passed the South Australian score, losing only three wickets.

Meanwhile a much closer game was in progress on the Colonel Waite Oval. The match was eventually won by the Victorian over 60s team.

The over 50s match played on the Parkinson Oval was also a close game that Victoria won.

The shield for each match was presented to each of the Victorian teams after the game. We then went back to the hotel to have dinner in the bistro.

Next morning we returned to Adelaide Airport to board the plane returning us to Melbourne. At Tullamarine, the car that Robin had booked was waiting to take us home.

It was a successful and enjoyable trip although we were only away for a couple of days.