Thornbury take Rockhampton Sixes (From Gazette Series)

Thornbury take Rockhampton Sixes

9:51am Thursday 16th August 2007 in Sport By Gazette reporter

THORNBURY claimed a rare victory in an otherwise difficult season as they won the annual Sixes tournament at The Common in Rockhampton.

The finals were played out to a sizeable crowd and furious bursts of music to greet every wicket or boundary, providing a carnival atmosphere for this most extravagant version of the national game - six players and five overs per side plus some massive hitting.

Thornbury were on first against unlikely finalists Oldbury and struggled initially against the pace of Lloyd Preston-Allen but made 76 from their five overs.

Some lusty blows from Cavendish in reply were not enough to see Oldbury home after skipper Phelps had been dismissed for a duck and they were all out for 57.

The other semi-final saw Winterbourne face Stone.

Winterbourne made 82 with runs for Kylander, Carter and Higgs.

Stone could only muster 62 in reply with Lavis top-scoring with 28.

The final was made all the more intense as Winterbourne's South African import Wayne Kylander faced the Thornbury side that he was a part of at the start of this season.

The Thorns were evidently sharpened and looking to draw blood but were not expecting the part-time off-breaks of Oakey to be the undoing of the burly Kylander before he could get off the mark.

It took a couple of monstrous sixes from Page off the bowling of Fidoe to bring Winterbourne to a respectable 57 but Thornbury were always in control in response.

Trotman set about ruining Kylander's day by clubbing 22 from his over including a reverse sweep for six and, after Trotman's dismissal, the diminutive yet destructive Hamish Reeves joined Oakey to see Thornbury home with four deliveries to spare.

Trotman collected the batting award to go with the Team Shield and cap a fine evening of cricket.

Rockhampton would like to thank Caledoniastar Ltd for sponsoring the event this year.