Mix102.3's Greatest Game of Backyard Cricket

Monday 18 Nov, 2019

Mix 102.3’s Mark “Soda” Soderstrom and Channel 7’s Jess Adamson hosted the Greatest Game of Backyard Cricket, captained by two children, one representing the Childhood Cancer Association and the other, CanTeen.

The idea came from a conversation Soda had as an ambassador for the Childhood Cancer Association, when he learned about the SIBS (Super Important Brothers and Sisters) program.

“Childhood Cancer Association does this for kids who have a brother or sister going through cancer, sometimes these kids feel left out, they feel a little more vulnerable, they feel confused,” Soda said.

“It’s so confronting so what the good guys at Childhood Cancer Association do is run a support program through school holidays (for the brothers and sisters).”

The headline act for this game of backyard cricket – is 13-year-old Jesse Pannenburg.

“When he was seven he lost his little sister Holly, who didn’t get to her first birthday when she was diagnosed and subsequently passed away from leukaemia,” Soda said.

“I don’t even know how you can go through that. I know we have got people listening now who have lost brothers and sisters and who have lost children… to you guys the strength you have to go on is amazing.

“(Jesse) loves his cricket and he and his dad Mark get together and really enjoy their cricket.

“I want to help little Jesse and the family here, I want to create South Australia’s greatest game of backyard cricket that has ever taken place.”

Soda said Jesse would be his team’s captain for the Childhood Cancer Association and Jess Adamson would also build a team representing CanTeen.

THE DAY WAS SIMPLY AMAZING!

13-year-old Jesse Pannenburg captained the Childhood Cancer Association team and was supported by a star-studded line-up that included Clive Lloyd, Jason Gillespie, Rachael Sporn, Travis Boak, Jess Trengove, Peter Malinauskas and Soda.

The CanTeen team was headed up by 14-year-old Leo Bawden and his team included Sophie Devine, Shaun Tait, Darren Lehmann, Tony Modra, Wayne Weidemann, Steven Marshall and Jess.

It was perfect conditions at Government House as the two teams battled it out for the Golden Sprinkler Trophy.

There didn’t really need to be a winner but there was – Soda and Jesse’s Childhood Cancer Association team put the runs on the board first thanks to plenty of runs from Jesse and 75-year-old Clive Lloyd. Jess and Leo’s CanTeen side couldn’t quite reach the target despite some big hitting from Tony Modra, Darren Lehmann and Sophie Devine.

This fantastic event raised much-needed awareness about children and families battling childhood cancer, and we sincerely thank the team at the Governor of South Australia, Mix102.3, Soda and Jess, and game sponsors, Thomas Farms and OTR.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEOS

Photos by Israel Baldago