Hit the Eastlink express just before 9am on Sunday morning, clad in the finest maroon polyester that is desperate for a day of rest. Reasonable distance drive to Cranbourne for the last of the T20 preliminary games, wary of this opponent at the top end as their recent recovery does seem to be of substance.
Phone call to DKP en route to confirm Lions combatants and an update in that FFFFFFFman was still AWOL but not front page of the Herald Sun with any schoolies related complications.
Cranbourne is not really a long distance from Central Melbourne but new comers will be trapped by the endless sequence of traffic lights from the first shopping strip, fast food outlet until the true centre. Passing one of the McDonalds there at 9.40am, unable to fathom why the queue extends way beyond the car park into the feeding street for the drive thru section. At least 25 cars, for this time of the morning. A first hand demonstration of obesity complications 101 maybe?
The Badge bustles in hard for the start of the sixth over, into the wind mind you. Some early damage by Myo Kimbo with a clever run out, direct hit from his follow through and a tidy beginning by suprise packets Hussler and Panasonic with the new rock. The Badge decimates the Swans with six overall, three of them with stumps blasted - we have a genuine option emerging here. Tomahawk goes on a spree next door, 4 overs - 4 maidens - 2 wicket for zero runs. The numbers will remain on the permanent record but the quality of the opposition is a stain easily wiped without considerable effort. Coach in rooms next door has a series of emotional explosions, not happy at all this Jan! Victory with comfort to the Lions in both games.
The main events begin earlier than scheduled to the delight of many, the blazing sun adding extra colour to the leg tattoos of the home team female supporters enjoying the imbibing of rainbow colored beverages aplenty. The cult of Kebab is growing in volume, the Lions batting first and drawing a crowd but unable to be quenched as he is dismissed softly. Generously this gives captain Sweet Heat centre stage to bomb three over the fence with power, the end total of 180 being plenty.
The Swan is being strangled on their own difficult patch of new earth, maybe better for next week but for an exciting T20 showcase - not today. Pace off bowlers causing extreme problems with Dyno Bells and Max1 removing the local stars with little contribution except for dots consumed. The Exotic Mauritian snaffles four stumpings overall in yet another effort of improving genius, get the batting right and then we have a player.
Some early misgivings before Fearsome smashed a couple into and over the fence, Skipper Dick guiding the ship being unbeaten in the 40's, adding another level of substance to recent performances. Points in both to the Lions, a 4-0 away trip and the same overall result against the Swan as Round 10 in the previous season.
Moments of unknowing if the win has been enough to secure a spot in the finals, return home with not all results known and basic maths of net run rates suggest we may narrowly have missed. Curses to the inept performance against the Kangaroos but joy is the outcome as call received from Cricket Victoria headquarters that due to us keeping Casey to the lowest score, we have qualified. Another chance to play in a final and gain from experience, excellent. Now if we can only find FFFFFFFFFFman.
A small gathering of Lion Cubs travel further east for an overnight at Chez Fearsome in the middle of a thirteen acre paddock that despite the inane questions from Max1 still requires mowing. A rested Furious found it complicated to contain the random behaviours, shadows in Amex and No Name giving cheek but having the sense (or voyeuristic tendencies) to make video capture bites for later sober reference. Thankfully it ended with little pain, except for the post midnight birth of ManWell and the connecting Moose calls that brought no sympathy.
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