An incredible 153 sixes were hit during the Bowning Sevens tournament on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The champions of the 2014 edition were the Ginninderra Tigers (A-grade) and the Soldier's Club Horns (B-grade) but the real winner was the event as a spectacle.
With 13 teams competing over three venues, the third edition of the 'Sevens' was expected to be the best yet. And by all accounts it was, with organiser Andrew Swaffield saying he was inundated with positive feedback.
"The standard of cricket was incredible and teams from all three venues have expressed how enjoyable the tournament was," he told the Tribune.
The tournament's six-over format encouraged positive batting and that was certainly the case, with batsmen opening their shoulders from the first delivery.
At Bowning Oval, Nick Pollack from the Pirates, lost two balls in the scrub beyond the boundary fence and put a dint in the roof of his teammates' ute. And it seemed that sort of heavy hitting was happening everywhere.
Tigers captain Daniel Poidevin was probably the biggest exponent of it, particularly late in the day. The imposing left-hander took to one Goulburn Reds bowler in the semi-final, launching seven sixes over mid-on and chasing down a mammoth total in the process.
They then met the well-fancied Soldier's Club Snipers (who won the semi-final at Bookham) in the A-grade final. A Snipers side featuring players such as captain Dave Field, Rob Field and Craig Irwin were no match for a Canberra side made up of third to fifth graders.
Poidevin, who again was the destroyer, said he was impressed with the way his teammates acquitted themselves.
"I was so proud of the way they handled pressure moments, especially bowling tight and not giving away any sundries in the grand final."
He is also sure that the tournament will only get bigger.
"I hope for sure there are more teams from Canberra next year I know I will be pushing hard for a second Tigers team and I'm sure north Canberra will be back," he said.
"My guys really enjoyed the day and can't wait to play again next year."
The Soldier's Club Horns led by Joe Logue took out the Steeden Shield, with victory over the Yass Golf Club Taipans at Binalong.
Swaffield wants to thank sponsors Energy Options, Greg Chappell Cricket Centre, DJ Ando and the Bowning Hotel.