The 2008-09 Twenty20 Grand Final Launceston vs Clarence
A light hearted look at the 1 run thriller in Manilla Lindisfarne.
Despite the fact that the Lions hadn’t beaten a Hobart based side in Hobart for some time, the mood on the bus on the way down was one of confidence and light heartedness. The exchange of clichés on the way down was a highlight. We had a short warm up, they seem to be getting shorter and shorter all the time with all the fossils in the side. Selbs lost the toss and we were sent in on what looked to be a decent pitch, short boundaries and fast outfield at the home of the Lindisfarne Lightning.
Selbs opened with Andy and got us off to a solid start. They added 51 for the first wicket before Andy was caught off the spinner Irvine for 15(20). Rossco came to the crease and with Selbs took the score to 90 when Rossco 10(17) tried to put Irvine into the Derwent, caught 2m short of the boundary. By this time Selbs was smashing them. All Evo really had to do was pick up the singles and give Selbs the strike. The boundaries were coming thick and fast, Selbs monstered numerous down the ground including a couple for the maximum over deep mid on. Evo chimed in with a huge Dorothy over moo and struck 20 from 20. Moorey was providing plenty of heckle from the boundary with calls like ‘can’t bowl there Trappa!’.
Requiring 1 run from the last ball of the innings for his ton, Selbs played neatly into the on side and scampered through for a couple finishing on a sensational 101not out from 65 balls including 9 fours and 4 six packs. Wade Irvine was the only bowler to trouble the wicket column with a couple of poles.
So with 2/161 on the board the Lions lads were upbeat and in with a real shot at victory. The Roos run chase started well with the opening pair putting on 32. Thommo and Risty combined to remove Dykes on the boundary and then Belsak snared Flowers off Whelan to make it 2/35. Harris and Tubb then compiled what looked to be a match winning partnership taking the score to 100, BUT THEN Rossco bowled Tubb. Irvine and then Hickey swung hard but were caught by great pressure catches on the boundary by Rocket and Belsak. And a handy cameo over by Rocket restricted the scoring to just 4 much to the delight of Chang. By this stage Whelan had picked up 2 wickets while Glover, Thommo and Rossco had 1 apiece.
Cut to the chase. One over remaining, Clarence requires 5 runs to win, 5 wickets in hand. First ball Wright goes for it and is caught deliciously by Rossco on the boundary. Singles off the next 3 balls… tension builds! Two runs off two balls required.
The tension builds further as a conversation takes place between Glover and Selby. Glover wants to bowl short, Selbs says just #$#%@ pitch it up!! Glover thinks he’s smart and bowls a bouncer, just for once Glover is smart. Not expecting the delivery the batsman takes in on the body and there’s a mix up as Kanizay is run out, Homer to Glover, at the non strikers end trying to pinch a single. So its all down to the last ball, Glover is sweating like a pig in the tropics. In he comes, pitched up, Harris drives hard to Selbs’ right at shortish cover, go go gadget arms Selbs mutters, POW, one hand pick up, dives horizontal, superman cape flapping in the wind, ball releases and then time stops……………….
For what seems an eternity, hearts in mouths, and then the unmistakeable sound of leather on stump, the sound of a Kingo wrong’un sneaking back through the gate after you have played down Wellington and should have been on Bathurst, come to think of it I’ve never heard that. The ball crashes into the stumps and then chaos rules like in the days of monkey magic, wouldn’t it be cool to be able to whistle up a cloud! Glover rolls like a beached whale and Rocket instantly jumps in the air. Porno hi5’s the closest air particle at fine leg. Rossco pretends he is HE MAN. Selbs takes off like he has struck the winning goal of the world cup final for Azerbaijan against Brazil, before successfully headlocked by Rocket and Whelan. Selbs then remembers his team mates, turns, and is mobbed like a seagull with the last chip. First by team members Thommo, Evolution, Homer, Andy, Glovebox, Porno, Rossco and “I don’t drop’em in finals” Risty. Then the cavalry arrives led by Joyce, hang on a second that’s not Joyce, Rice cakes does new 50m PB time for the number 1 shirt. And in they pile, Moorey, Goffo, Kingo, Keg, Changa, and more with Beardo snapping away like a crocodile on a barramundi. Joystick remained on the sidelines with the big wigs of the TCA, itching to get amongst it, but still trying to find out why the game wasn’t being played at Bellerive!!
Ceremonies follow, medals are handed out, man of the match awards aren’t given, the cup is claimed and the beers flow. Coach Rodney puts away the first full beer skull from the cup. Players mingle in the sheds before climbing aboard the venga party bus for the long ride home. A wim awa awim awa………….in the jungle the mighty jungle the lions drink tonight……eeeeeuuuuuuuuooooooo…. awima wumawwwaaayyyyyyyyy!
Many thanks to Beardo who did a sensational job on the photos and to the supporters for making the long trip to Hobart, finally seeing us take home some chocolates.