South Australia v Western Australia, Pura Cup, Adelaide, 3rd day

Redbacks' emphatic win farewells Lehmann in style

Jenny Thompson in Adelaide

November 25, 2007

South Australia 397 and 1 for 30 beat Western Australia 236 and 190 (Davis 42, Adcock 3-30) by 9 wickets
Scorecard

Darren Lehmann was swamped by his Redbacks team-mates for the final time © Getty Images

South Australia brought up their first Pura Cup victory of the season with a nine-wicket win inside three days, a fitting way for Man-of-the-Match Darren Lehmann to end his first-class career. They bowled out Western Australia for 190 in their second innings, with Nathan Adcock leading the rout with 3 for 30.

As Lehmann's fairytale departure continued, it was only to be expected that it would be his catch in the gully that closed out the innings. After taking the one-handed screamer his hands went high in the air and he was cheered off the ground. He also had time for one final victim, Theo Doropoulos taking that honour, and he gave the bowlers credit for a polished performance.

"I was really impressed with the way we bowled today," he said. "Everyone chipped in. If we bowl like that we will win a lot of games this year. We stuck to our plans."

It was hard work for the bowlers but they persisted as they had done on the first day. Ryan Harris, who had performed well in the first innings without reward, finally opened his account with the first wicket of the day. His successful shout against Chris Rogers, who finished with 8 to add to his first-innings 14, was one of three lbws awarded in the first session.

Adcock bagged the others, trapping Liam Davis in front for 42, and then dismissing Justin Langer on the stroke of lunch. As in the first innings, Langer had already had a life, this time on 21, offering a hard chance off Paul Rofe to Mark Cosgrove in the gully. But again he failed to make the home side pay.

Doropoulos fell in the second session, then any dreams Luke Ronchi had of pushing them beyond parity, or even facing a ball, ended when Adam Voges' poke to point resulted in him being run out when Callum Ferguson returned to Graham Manou. Manou had a hand in the next wicket too, a great catch to his right from Voges pushing forward.

Voges played well for 35, and explained at the end of the match that the absence of the suspended Luke Pomersbach and Shaun Marsh didn't help matters. "Your two leading run scorers are going to be missed," he said, "but we are not using that as an excuse."

Western Australia did take a lead of 30, but wickets came steadily. Paul Rofe trapped Aaron Heal, then Brad Hogg's flighty innings ended on 35 with one whoosh too far. He came down the track for Adcock to pick up his third breakthrough, this time with a stumping. Jason Gillespie then prompted Steve Magoffin to pop to Lehmann in close, before it was Lehmann again catching Mathew Inness in the gully.

Cosgrove fell early for the second time in this match - he was bowled by Inness, who ended with seven wickets - but Matthew Elliott and Ferguson took them home. The meaning of the win was apparent from Ferguson's celebration. Lehmann deserved the send-off too. With two centuries this week, including the one on the second day of this match, he contributed to his own party in style.

Jenny Thompson is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

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