Brian Mollet
There is hardly a sporting code out there that doesn’t see the need to ‘evolve’ their game in some Darwinesque way, usually towards an idealistic goal that involves administrators and huge wads of cash.
The Nick Shand Memorial cricketers are devolutionary by comparison and proud to point out that their involvement has taken the grand game backwards by at least 50 or 60 years.
Sunday saw Lomath Oval as well clipped as a scientologist’s sideburns and glowing with a hint of spring as Christian of the Byron Full-Tossers won the toss and invited Levi and the Suffolk Swingers to bat.
Adam and Shaun (2-7) worked up speed quicker than a biker’s bathtub early on but this failed to inspire any caution in Hughsey who raced to 18 but came undone when a full pitched ball from Neil the birdman not so much swung, as swooped.
The Swingers were not pendulating at all as they lost 4-10, Owen (20) and Michael had to do a bit of a re-stumping job on the innings, safely seeing the Suffolk lads to drinks but despite the perfect conditions every time they tried to force the pace they came unstuck.
Wickets to Christian and Jean soon after the break upped the pressure, Luke (18) and Wortho were the best of the lower order and saw the Swingers to 100 but pressure to Neil (4-11) just means there is an updraft somewhere.
He soared into contention for the witchdoctor’s trophy (for the most wickets in the series), shutting down the innings for 113.
It was still a great day for batting and Byron openers Adam and Shaun, whose two wickets, a catch, and 30 not out marked a fine debut; started like they meant business. 35 was bitten off the total in not much time despite some early heat from Heath and a wicket to Mick’s sharp mediums.
Barney faceplanted the famous turf at third man to hold an inspirational one hander and suddenly the Swingers were rocking.
Hughsey, Owen, Lionel and Wortho (2-25) all chimed in with scalps and it was almost a chance for the Swingers until Jade thumped the Tossers to within 10 of the total and possibly into the Semis with some long range rockets.
The Swingers however bagged seven wickets and the four teams who will contest the trophy round will only be decided after next week’s Main Arm vs Left Bankers game, a win for the Arm would mean the invisible abacus would have to be deployed to determine third, fourth and fifth.
