Rain Washes Away Kookaburras' Final Hopes

Newcastle Herald

Monday March 26, 2007

By NEIL GOFFET

TORONTO Workers' fairytale run in Newcastle district cricket ended yesterday at rain-soaked No.1 Sportsground.

Playing semi-final cricket for the first time since 1994-95, Toronto were outsiders to chase down Merewether's 330 to win the game and progress to the final, but they would have loved to have had a chance.

Instead it rained and they did not get to face a ball.

The Kookaburras, inspired all season by the batting of new recruit Paul Toole and bowling of captain Matthew Hancock, bowed out of contention because they finished fourth on the ladder. Merewether, as minor premiers, advanced to the final.

Both teams arrived to see a drenched No.1 Sportsground yesterday and by the time the game was scheduled to start, the teams were shaking hands in the grandstand when Hancock conceded there was no chance of play.

"We would've preferred to get bowled out for 50 than not get a chance at all, but that's the way it goes," Hancock said. "It is disappointing to come this far and have it end like this because you would rather lose than get washed out.

"But I'm very proud of the lads and what we've achieved this season. It was good to get a taste of semi-final cricket because the boys are already talking about next season."

Toronto ended five years of sitting in the cellar this season when they snuck into the final four with a superior quotient to defending premiers Charlestown, who were tied for fourth.

Hancock knew beating Merewether was going to be difficult after losing outright to them in round 10, and the experienced Lions batting line-up followed the script, setting up a winning total on Saturday morning.

Skipper Simon Moore (70) and opener Michael Varnum (57) batted patiently with purpose to set a platform for hard-hitting middle-order batsman Troy Goodwin (75) and Mitch Irwin (25).

Geoff Kaminski toiled hard without reward for figures of 0-47 off 19 overs. Spinner Toole (4-48) and Adrian Chad (3-89) took wickets at vital stages until a 53-run last-wicket stand.

Spin bowler Tim O'Neill cracked two sixes in his 32 and fast bowler Duncan McIlveen remained unbeaten on 20 when they were dismissed in the last over of the day.

"They pretty much played perfect semi-final cricket," Hancock said of the Merewether innings.

"They took their time and settled in to set the platform, and they did it very well."

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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