The last minor round game of the season for old foes Olympic Dam and Wanderers resulted in a 149 run win to the Devils.
Both sides were without several key players for the match at Roxby Downs oval on Saturday morning but match winning performances came from the Olympic Dam players.
The winners had Wayne Moroney with a century from the opening spot and Rein Geraghty taking six wickets with the new ball.
They were backed up by Phil Stacey’s 29 run, three wicket all-round performance and Darren “Lenny” Leonard with a 45 runs late in the innings.
For the losers it was a day for the Swaggies to put in the memory locker and live to fight another day.
Dylan Male top scored with an unbeaten knock of 21 and took two wickets while Dave Hansen was the most economical of the bowlers with 1/33 from his eight.
Olympic Dam openers Moroney and Stacey overcame a slow start against some keen bowling and fielding to post 89 runs before the latter was caught by Sean Quinn in the covers off Hansen.
Seb Holbrook played some fine shots in his 19 runs until Male had him caught by Quinn at 2/157 as Moroney fast approached his century
The left-hander brought up three figures with a pull shot off Male but the bowler got his revenge in the same over when Craig Hancock gleefully held a straight forward chance at square leg.
Moroney’s ton included two sixes and nine fours and set his side up to post a huge score for Wanderers to chase.
Leonard (45) and the hard hitting Brayden McEvoy with a quick fire 19 added to the woes of the fielding side and the innings ended on 230 after 40 overs.
Wanderer’s run chase began on a cautious note with Craig Wilson and veteran Rob Paxton opening against Olympic Dam’s new ball attack of Geraghty and Holbrook.
Paxton on five was first to go when caught by another “old timer” in Shane Moroney and Wilson with nine followed soon after well held by Holbrook at mid-off.
Luke Dunk was snapped up by Mick Hoffmann without troubling the scorers and Jason Carroll joined the procession when he holed out to Dion McEvoy for four runs.
The carnage continued as Quinn was trapped in front for two and Hansen (10) was out to a great running catch by Adam Warren and the Swaggies down and out at 6/29.
Geraghty had all six wickets from a sustained six over spell of swing bowling for just 13 runs.
The lower order saved some face for the batting side as Stacey 3/22 and Hoffmann 1/22 gradually “winkled” them out to dismiss Wanderers for just 81 runs.
Male, Paul Luke with three lusty fours, Hancock (9) and Brett Thompson (8) posted late runs but it was a big win for the Devils.
With both sides at full strength who knows what the finals will throw up as these two clubs do battle in the major round with Roxby Rogues and the Woomera Redbacks.
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