Ricky Damiano breaks run record but Tonners miss Subbies finals
Brighton fell out of the top six and missed the VSDCA finals after losing to Malvern at the Brighton Beach Oval.
Inner South
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What a disaster for Brighton.
In the top six of the VSDCA north-south section all season, the Tonners tumbled out of it on Saturday after being defeated by Malvern in the final round.
Their third consecutive loss cost them a finals appearance.
Chasing Malvern’s 4-228 – probably a par total at Brighton Beach Oval given the good wicket and quick outfield – Brighton was dismissed for 176 in 41.2 overs.
Malvern’s hopes soared after young leggie Adam Hollingworth bowled Tonners captain Ricky Damiano as he attempted a dinkly little sweep.
Damiano’s dismissal came as a surprise given he had sped to 59 off 61 balls and looked untroubled by every bowler.
His half-century lifted his aggregate this season to a competition-best 716 runs at 59.7, with four centuries. He also assumed the Brighton record for most runs in a season, going past Gordon Robinson’s 706, made in 1918-19.
Damiano and Charith Cooray had the Tonners going well at 1-69, but Cooray was caught behind for 26.
No 4 Jack Rutter (5) was bowled by Sam Gardiner as he looked to drive down the ground.
Gardiner also scalped John Damiano (7), caught behind as he tried to run a ball through gully.
Malvern missed getting Brighton coach Michael Nyary when he ran down the wicket at Hollingworth and hit the ball high to deep mid-on. The fielder misjudged the catch so badly that in the end he was lucky to get a hand on it as he back-pedalled.
But when Hollingworth removed Ricky Damiano and Glen Parker bowled Nyary for 18, the Roosters had gained control of the match.
Parker finished with 3-31 off nine overs, to go with his innings of 77 not out.
Chris McCormick blistered 74 not out off 72 balls as he and Parker put on an unbroken partnership of 120 for the fifth wicket.
It was a tough day for Brighton, and a tough day for opener Brenton Murphy. He was involved in a bingle on the way to the ground, made three and watched his team fall out of the finals.
“Disappointing end to the season. Very disappointing,’’ Tonners president Bernard Mutimer said this morning.
“We’ll evaluate it and work out what we need going forward.
“I think we need a batsman who can bowl and another batsman.’’