New Years Eve Cricket

CJ takes a quick morning walk to the other side of the business district to make certain Budget Rental is indeed open on New Year's Day to honor our reservation. Hertz, Thrifty, EuropeCar and Avis are closed.

James and Jackie come by to pick up CJ's stupidity.  He's graciously storing the three and a half cases of excess wine we purchased until we return in early 2019. As he saw it, he gave us a six pack and we gave him seven six packs.  He figures if we never come back he wins.  We know the quality of the wine he gave us.  We figure it's about even.

This afternoon Carol and CJ return to the Oval for the Big Bash double header.  The Lady Strikers play the early Twenty20 match and the men play the evening match.

There is a mix-up between SACA and the Adelaide Oval.  SACA believes the Bodyline Bar opens at 1230.  The Oval plans to open it a 1630. Emergency staff are called in to open as soon as possible. We arrive some time after they finally open.  We don't get CJ's usual seat.  We get the row in front of it.

CJ's favorite bartender, Gary, is the first to arrive since he lives around the block.

The Brisbane Heat women beat the Adelaide Strikers quite badly.

Cricket is a game women can play on a par with men.  Since their bowling is not quite as fast, it allows them to be far more entertaining batswomen(?).  Some of them have an incredible array of shots.

Twenty20 is taking the world by storm.  Somewhat copying the Indian Premier League, there are fireworks, cheerleaders, home team scoring celebrations and much more fanfare.

Tis a good day for viewing St. Peters over the historic Adelaide manual scoreboard and the West End brewery private suite.  They hold contests to get in to it.

Between the women's and men's matches, there is a band and a short show on the field. The home batsmen enter the field to pyrotechnics.

New for Big Bash games is the entertainment platform located beneath the southeast scoreboard. The band was here between matches.  During the men's match, the cheerleaders cheer major scores from here, just like in the IPL.

Our intent was to stay to the end but eventually we decided to retreat to our apartment and watch on TV. The masses are assembling in Elder Park and along the banks of the River Torrens for the fireworks. The river barges are in place.  

We enter the Adelaide Oval Footbridge a few minutes before 8pm.  Signs indicate it closes for the fireworks at 8pm.  By the time we get to the other end, security it rushing us off. Time to place fireworks on the bridge.