TRAVIS BOAK and an unheralded rookie star as Port Adelaide wins an exhibition cricket match against Adelaide by four wickets to raise money for those affected by bushfires.
No, it’s not the headline from next month’s Bushfire T20 Showdown, it’s what happened eleven years ago when the sides faced off at Football Park for a similar cause.
In February 2009, the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria burned 450,000 hectares of land and left 173 people dead.
It was one of the nation’s worst bushfire disasters and both Port Adelaide and Adelaide wanted to help those affected in whatever way they could.
Within four days of the fires igniting, the clubs had come together with the SANFL to commit to hosting an exhibition cricket T20 match at Football Park with all proceeds going to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
The SA Footy Bushfire Bash For Cash took place on February 17, 2009 and saw $159,618 raised for the appeal.
Port Adelaide was led by Boak and young key position player Glenn Dawson (pictured above), who guided the Power to a four-wicket win with 12 balls to spare.
Dawson, a state junior cricketer who Port Adelaide selected weeks earlier in the 2009 Rookie Draft, hit 52 off 27 balls before being retired by the radio hosts who were ground announcers on the night.
His was the only half-century of the night with former Australian cricketer Darren Lehmann, suiting up for the Crows, next best, retiring on 42.
Gavin Wanganeen, opening the batting with Dom Cassisi, was bowled first ball but Dawson’s innings steadied the ship before Boak took over.
Boak partnered with Australian test cricketer Jason Gillespie in the middle order, finishing with 42 off 27 before defender Troy Chaplin smashed 20 runs off seven balls to bring up the winning runs.
His knock included consecutive sixes off the bowling of Adelaide skipper Simon Goodwin.
Chaplin had earlier played his part with the ball, taking two wickets in his first over.
Tony Modra was useful for Adelaide with 27 runs before the Crows finished on 6/155.
The sides will meet again, this time on Adelaide Oval, on Sunday 2 February at 2:30pm to raise valuable funds for people directly affected by the recent bushfires in Cudlee Creek and on Kangaroo Island through the SA Bushfire Appeal.
Boak will again feature for the Power after being named amongst eight active Port Adelaide players as the teams were revealed at Adelaide Oval yesterday afternoon.
Tickets are now on sale through Ticketek, while the State Government has also committed to providing free public transport to those who attend the match.
Donations to the SA Bushfire Appeal can be made here.
2009 SA FOOTY BUSHFIRE BASH FOR CASH SQUADS
Port Adelaide
Travis Boak (captain), Gavin Wanganeen, Jason Gillespie, Warren Tredrea, Troy Chaplin, Kane Cornes, Brendon Lade, Dom Cassisi, Daniel Motlop, Justin Westhoff, Glenn Dawson, Paul Stewart
Adelaide:
Simon Goodwin (captain), Darren Lehmann, Tony Modra, Brent Reilly, Bernie Vince, Chris Knights, Tyson Edwards, Brad Moran, Jared Petrenko, Aaron Kite, James Sellar.
