Brian Mollet
Lomath Oval shone like a jewel in the navel of a bellydancer for the east-of-the-highway derby in the Nick Shand Memorial cricket series pitting the condo-dwelling Byron Full-Tossers against the shark-dodging surf dudes of Suffolk Park, known as the Swingers.
Levi called correctly and surveying the freshly flayed outfield and the springlike sunshine ordered his Swingers to have a swing.
Owen (35) and Chi put on 40 for the first wicket until Brian’s (1–14) ubiquitous outswingers claimed the first scalp.
The Tossers had a good run before drinks as Adam (3–5) cut into the top order but from there the pendulum was all Swingers as Aza (30) and Wortho (35) put some rare moments of fear into the denizens of the adjacent skatepark.
The Swingers cashed in in the closing overs as the inspirtional ‘rocket’ Rod (22 n/o) thumbed his nose to Father Time and with help from ‘tiny’ Jim biffed the Swingers to a rampantly throbbing series high total of 198.
After the break the Swingers struck the first blows as Jim and Luke (2–16) eroded the top order. Jamie (40) and Adam (24) then set about pulling the sagging Tossers, as it were, back into calculations.
A hot catch from Jim ended the partnership off Aza’s (2–16) bowling and, despite some defiant stuff from Janny (24), Brian and John of the Tossers couldn’t bring it to a climax, falling 28 short of the total.
Next week the Geckos and Main Arm battle it out for fourth spot in the finals.
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