All-round Manenti stars on South Australia debut as win gives hope of better season
Manenti and Nathan McAndrew added 108 for the seventh wicket to turn the game around
AAP
26-Sep-2022
Ben Manenti made a half-century and followed it with key wickets • Getty Images
South Australia 8 for 278 (Manenti 60, McAndrew 55, Head 47) beat Queensland 217 (Truloff, Renshaw 43, Thornton 3-55) by 61 runs
South Australia's new-look bowling line-up delivered in style to pick up a comfortable 62-run one-day opening-round win over Queensland.
Last season's strugglers bowled out Queensland for 217 off 46.5 overs at Allan Border Field having been sent into bat and posting 8 for 278.
Henry Thornton enjoyed the best return with 3 for 55 but it was a strong all-round display from the Redbacks attack who tied down the home side during the middle part of the innings.
Thornton, along with former New South Wales paceman Harry Conway and offspinner Ben Manenti, all debuted for South Australia, with Joe Mennie, Daniel Worrall and Kane Richardson departing since last summer.
Sam Truloff top-scored for Queensland with 49 but found himself tied down for long periods, while Matt Renshaw contributed a quickfire 43 coming in at No.5.
Conway picked up 2 for 37 from 8.5 overs, Wes Agar was frugal throughout for 1-30 from his 10 overs, while Manenti also impressed with 2 for 37 from his allotted overs.
It was some debut from Manenti, who previously had a single one-day Cup match with Tasmania to his credit. Manenti, the son of Australia's women's world champion rugby sevens coach John Manenti, also top-scored with a rapid-fire 60 from 45 balls.
In concert with Nathan McAndrew (55 from 42), Manenti helped add a decisive partnership of 108 for the seventh wicket and change the momentum of the contest.
South Australia were reeling at 6 for 148 with their recognised batsman all back in the pavilion. But McAndrew and Manenti scored at better than a run a ball to find the kind of momentum that was missing from Queensland's effort with the bat under lights.
South Australia's key batters all found a way to get out just as they look settled. Opener Jake Weatherald made 37, Alex Carey posted 20 and captain Travis Head looked set for a big score before he was stumped off the bowling of part-time spinner Renshaw for 47.
Renshaw, after working on his bowling during the winter, picked up 2 for 30 while newly capped Test legspinner Mitch Swepson impressed with 2 for 42.