East Torrens triumph over twin tragedies

South Australian club East Torrens has broken a 24-year trophy drought in a triumph charged with emotion following twin tragedies that have rocked the club in the past 12 months, including the death of Australia Test batsman Phillip Hughes.

Hughes joined the Adelaide-based club on his move to the West End Redbacks from NSW in 2012, and his presence was felt on Saturday as the club secured a four-wicket victory over Sturt to claim the West End One Day Cup for the first time since 1990-91.

Jake Lehmann, son of the former Australia batsman and current Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren, led East Torrens to the victory with an unbeaten 78.

MyCricket scorecard: East Torrens v Sturt

Last February, a train accident claimed the life of Andrew Cranmer, the twin brother of club captain and opening batsman Michael.

In November, Hughes passed away at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney two days after being struck on the back of the neck by a bouncer while batting for the West End Redbacks in a Bupa Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Following the win, Lehmann told The Advertiser: "To win this cup is great for the club.

"We've had some tough times and all the boys have stuck together and shown we can push through anything.

"I hope those two are looking down on us and that we've made them proud."

Hughes adopted Adelaide – and South Australian cricket adopted him in return – after moving from his home state of NSW in 2012 to continue his prolific career under coach Darren Berry and general manager Jamie Cox.

Armed with unbridled talent and a cheeky grin, Hughes joined East Torrens and quickly became entrenched in the Redbacks lineup, moving in with teammate Tom Cooper, and forming strong friendships with Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa among others.

Zampa posted a touching photo of Hughes with East Torrens' trophy following the win.

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Adam Zampa's Instagram tribute after East Torrens' win // @zampstagram

Michael Cranmer has emerged from the tragedies in career-best form, and earned a call-up to a South Australia second XI side in late January.

He told The Advertiser how the club had been hit hard by Hughes's death given "we'd all been through so much with Andrew's passing".

"For a freak accident like that to happen ... it was very tough for our boys to go through that again.

"It shows how strong our club is to go through two tragedies within 10 months of each other and come out the other side.

"Not a day goes by where we don't think of Hughesy and Andy."

International and domestic duties limited Hughes's participation on the field for East Torrens, but the impact he made off it is one that his grade club president Andrew Carver will never forget.

"The mood of a room would change when he was in it, change for the better and that was always the case," Carver told cricket.com.au.

"The guys didn't have a lot of playing time with him but that had a lot of social time with him, whether that be when he was in town or also on the phone with him and other things.

"His impact was quite incredible really. He left a mark that's for sure, but we're really proud of that mark.

"He was so well loved by everybody; the guys respected him just enormously."

The loss of two club favourites could have sent East Torrens one of two ways, but Carvers says the tragedies united the cricket community.

"It galvanized the whole club," Carver said.

"It goes right through from our all our past players and supporters, our sponsors - it affects everybody.

"As the president of the club all I can do is thank everybody for their wonderful support over the tough times, but it goes to the credit of the playing group and the coaching staff for being able to withstand all the things that confront you when it's very easy to fall down.

"They've pulled together really strong and we're really proud of that."