2020
Another year, another Boxing Day Tonk Test to overshadow Christmas.
Team selection was based on housing location - Devonport West vs Devonport East:
Team West
Ryan (Elephants) - Captain
Josh (Elephants)
Tige (Hostile Witness)
Lindsay (Last Dregs)
Matt (Elephants)
Eelco (Devonport Diggers)
Scott (Elephants)
Harry (Devonport Diggers)
Narly (Elephants)
Richard (Hostile Witness)
Millsy (Hostile Witness)
Steve (Hostile Witness)
Team East
Robin (Hostile Witness) - Captain
Nelson (Hostile Witness)
Jules (Take That Tossers)
Sam T (Hostile Witness)
Shawn (Got The Runs)
Spencer (Devonport Diggers)
Oxley (Devonport Diggers)
Karl Lear (Take That Tossers)
Sam S (Hostile Witness)
Andrew (Hostile Witness)
Kent (Dad’s Army)
Shane (Hostile Witness)
Match report (by Nelson)
After a year of lockdowns and social distancing Narly promptly issued the Google form signup sheet at the start of regular TONK for the 5th Edition of BDT, and Steve got taught two valuable lessons:
Fill in the fucking form, and
You cannot lie to a Crown Prosecutor.
McCoubrey rests his case
Maybe it was Covid or maybe it was the introduction of Eelco to the WhatsApp, but the 26th couldn’t come fast enough with a constant stream of messages in the build-up consistently overstepping the line with front foot no-balls.
Finally the 26th arrived and the gangs of Devonport descended to the Domain. The West side looked suspiciously well organised, arriving early and their team uniform sponsored by Ikes...
Ryan and Robin conducted an umpire free toss with Ryan electing to take a rare opportunity to bat first.
A sunsmart Scott opened and put on a TONK batting master class. Baker on return from injury got a bad case of the Monros and departed early. Tige was caught behind by Tuck off Robin cheaply and Richard was clean bowled by Karl after getting a start.
Lindsay was out on zero and instead of downing a beer took to his wrist with a bottle cap before being coaxed back to the field of play only to be out for a Tonk duck.
After 12 overs the West had posted 98. Narly came in and accelerated the innings with a 25*. The West then unleashed the African trifecta. Steve powered to 25* after being out for 0 and Mills stuttered his way to 8 after 2 outs on 0. Harry came in a looked very assured before being bowed by Jules. Eelco was another that was out on 0 but then put in a PB batting performance of 23 not out.
Josh played a great (and somewhat violent) closing innings of 27, leaving Ryan to score 4 from his solitary ball - the West finishing with a competitive 215.
In reply the East opened with Nelson and Karl with Nelson batting through to 26 and Karl looking good before being runout due to some dubious sportsmanship by Foreskins Lament at 3rd slip for 16. Kent steadied the ship at 3 and carried his bat for 25. Jules was looking in nice touch before Matt and Harry combined to end his day early. At drinks, the East’s worm was slightly higher than the West’s at 104. Shane played some quality shots before falling to the Honey Trap.
The Heroes from Hobbiton (Robin and Spencer) were both promoted up the order but were not able to replicate their matching winning heroics for previous editions falling cheaply. A one legged Ox retired with 5 boundaries but the number of runs required was starting to look like a tall ask. Downie downed 2 beers before heading back to the dugout.
Tuck started with a 6 before being caught leaving Shawn and Sam S needing some TONK magic to win the game but alas for the East, there was no 40 off the final ball.
The boat race mirrored the cricket with the East starting strong thanks to a series of well executed torpedoes but failing to maintain the rate in the middle order and the West cruising to a one man win.
Another excellent day and thank you to everyone for contributing - BBQers, scorers, umpires, marquees, Mr Whippy organising, mums and kids.
Awards:
POD West: Narly
POD East: Shane
Inaugural Spencer Bailey award for umpiring excellence: Steve and Zane (“Taste the Rainbow”)
See you all again next year.
2020 Scorecards
