The soccer World Cup may attract billions of fanatical viewers but in the Nick Shand Memorial cricket series you won’t find participants writhing on the ground like cut eels trying to win a free kick and Vladimir Putin has never heard of the game.
On Sunday the undefeated Geckos took on the banjo-toting hillbillies of Left Bank.
Gecko Pete Wynne-Moylan won the toss and chose to bat first.
Fabulous Phil took an early scalp for the Bankers but Stuart (30) and Drew (37no) then latched on to the bowling like shellbacks on a bandicoot’s backside.
James (33no) and Mick then set about the middle overs like Burmese soldiers going through a Rohinja village and the runs piled up like Warren Buffet’s bank balance until some tight late bowling by Clay (1/2) and Russell (1/13) kept the total down to a hefty but attainable 145.
The Bankers’ dangerous opening pair of Scruff and Russell were both back in the shed early as James (1/4) and Drew (2/10) charged like power companies.
At 2/19 the Bankers looked insolvent but Clay (34) and Dan (31) put on 81 for the fourth wicket and the game was on in the late overs. Big hitting from Bruce saw the target dissolving like the Belongil shoreline until replacement fielder (and Left Bank skipper) Scruff dived at backward square to hold a fine but somewhat traitorous catch and the late charge at the win faltered 25 runs short.
The Geckos head the table. Middle Pub player of the series went to Drew and Clay.
