Scorecard

Last year was the year of the mop. Some would say it was the year that made a captain. Anyone that was there knows it produced a new one - although a bloke that wears his gals undies in a match (pink to boot) winding up as the next captain??!!  

 

Anyone worth their salt knows there was a warning cast late last season throughout the Division 2 league. And it now seems everyone is paying close attention. That memorable run late last year has proven to be the awakening of something that can only be described as... bloody BIG. The men in green of the Toos started 2008 where they left off last year in spectacular fashion, securing a birth in the Final of the newly-added 20/20 competition. It is by now common knowledge the lads fell a few runs short, but it was close. And it hasn't gone unnoticed by the cricket brethren.

 

This is probably the fourth or fifth report I've had the privilege to comment on - and the toughest - it's the first one that involves a loss! So I'll keep it brief.

 

The lads fought with all they had to a last over shoot out with a hard hitting West Bay. Newly appointed skipper - Dickie "The Sawl" Thomas showed faith and garnered respect from his boys by only including one First Grader in his line up -  adding Tommy the 'Passion" to bolster the top order's bang.

 

One bloke who has really made an impact with the Toos and will be hard pressed to keep from Watto's mitt's is the affable Steve Smith. Hasn't this bloke found the pistol - the bugger's winning more bloody awards than McGrath did on Awards night. Rightly so too. Between him and Tex they have been instrumental in our fortunes this year. Again he scored beyond a run a ball setting up yet another base for the lads with a zippy 37. Tommy too chipped in with a fast 24 including a belter of a six. If anyone was robbed it was Red. Brought in early to belt the attack he did exactly that - unfortunately a rocket fired out to deep mid-wicket’s hands stuck on the second grab. Gordon chimed in with a run a ball knock squeezing past the ten run fine threshold before losing the stumps.

 

Another fella who has made as much an impact as Smith has to be Faisal. This bloke's pretty bloody handy!  The fact he threw down a ball faster than the rest when Jerry brought out the speed gun at training the other week speaks for itself. Spin has been to date his real weapon - but maybe now it's the bat. He has given Stevo a run for his money come fine time that’s for sure! Faisal belted 33 in 25 mins and about the same in balls before fatigue had the upper hand.

 

Skipper made 6, Dogga and Troskie both went run a ball - Troskie hitting a great four as the team halted at 130 for 8.

 

West Bay batted well. The openers added 42 from 6 overs before Robinson was caught by Smith. This bought out D Cato who would hold throughout. Faisal removed the bails from opener Sicard after he and Cato added 43 to take the score to 85-2 from 12.  When Troskie held a ripper in the outer not 2 balls later catching Cato # 2, there suddenly seemed to be a shift in momentum and a restlessness in West Bay's changing room.

 

Dogga Dean has to be the unluckiest fella when it comes to LBW decisions. He couldn’t even buy one in games leading up to the final. But Willis made up for the umpires blindness of the past - West Bay losing another as the score hit three figures.

 

5 overs left - 20 from 30.

 

This is usually the bit where the boys rip heads off men, snot flies from nostrils, horns roar and mops fly...!

 

Another ten runs would have made the difference. You win some, and yes you lose some. Tommy's throw to run out Moore in the dying stages was all class. Alas we fell short, but we instilled yet another dose of respect - and a very nervous smile into yet another opponent.

 

Watch this space...!