A SIX was needed, but the Old Boys had to be satisfied with a boundary off the final ball as the Peter Toohey’s Old Boys cricket match at St Stanislaus’ College ended in a tie on Saturday.
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Both teams finished with 141 runs after 40 overs.
The annual fixture pits current Stannies students up against former Stannies students in a match that is labelled as a friendly contest, but where both teams want to claim the bragging rights.
Needing a six on the final ball of the game to win, David Toohey almost achieved a miracle for the Old Boys, but his four means the bragging rights will remain on offer for at least another year.
The Old Boys were looking comfortable against the First XI when they were just 20 runs away from a win off 10 overs.
In a late collapse, however, the Old Boys lost five wickets and went into the final over with the result still in doubt.
First XI bowler Jake Cornish had bowled two maidens in three overs to set up a tense final over.
A no ball and a single meant the Old Boys needed a four to tie and a six to win on the final ball in what was a gripping finish to a classic match.
First XI coach Tony Fisher said the result was a good one all round, as the cricketers enjoyed the first tie in the annual fixture.
“In the end we fell short of the win, but it was a good result where the players enjoyed themselves,” he said.
“It was a lovely day for cricket and it was played in good spirit.”
Luke Powell was the standout for the First XI team, scoring 43 off 53 with the bat and taking 3-18 with the ball.
Fisher was full of praise for Powell, a player with plenty of talent and a bright future in cricket.
Ryan Campbell scored well for the First XI, making 31 off 75, and Jake Cornish took 2-26 as the young boys scored 6-141.
When the Old Boys came out to bat, First XI coach Fisher tried something unorthodox, using spinner Ryan Campbell to try to throw off the Old Boys’ openers.
The top scorers for the Old Boys were Mark Toohey with 44 off 73 and Sean Toohey with 32 off 32, as the team achieved 8-141.
Barry Toohey took 2-20 off nine and Mark Toohey took 2-8 off two for the Old Boys.
The match featured father and son duo Dean and Josh Oxley, Cliff Dunford, who made the trip from the Hunter Valley, and six Tooheys – brothers Peter, David, Mark and Barry and David’s sons Sean and Bryce.
The match is named in honour of Peter Toohey, who was born in Blayney and went to school at St Stanislaus’ College.
Toohey went on to play 15 Tests and five ODIs for Australia from 1977 to 1979, starring in the national team during a time when the team lost a bulk of stars to World Series Cricket.
