Brighton run down 300-plus target for the first time in its history

It was a victory that will linger in the minds of the Brighton players and the club’s supporters. In years to come they might even refer to it as The Great Chase.
Set an imposing 311 by Subbies newcomer St Bernard’s, the Tonners pulled off a spectacular reply, reaching 8-312 at Brighton Beach Oval.

History was made: it was the first time Brighton had reeled in a 300-plus target.
But talk about tense. The hosts had needed eight off the final over, and the winning runs came from the last ball, when young Sam Hall-Kahan hit three runs over mid-off.

Talking to Leader after day one of the match, Brighton captain Ricky Damiano acknowledged he would have to score heavily for his team to win, particularly with Englishman Dan Anderson unavailable to bat.
Damiano did exactly that.

The champion right-hander hit 124 from No 3, a flowing 147-ball innings spiced with 17 boundaries.
It was his first ton for Brighton and his 11th in Subbies (he hit nine centuries in his five seasons at Caulfield).
“Yeah, it was nice. Nice to get a big one and more importantly to get a win,’ Damiano said.
“We celebrated pretty hard. Amazing win. It’s the first time in the club’s history that Brighton has chased down 300. Great effort from all the boys. They showed plenty of fight.’’

Damiano and Anique Uddin added 113 for the third wicket, and he put on 96 for the fourth peg with Andrew Martin, who contributed a patient 35.
Brighton was 4-238 when Damiano was dismissed, and 7-253 when Martin’s innings ended.
But bowlers Brad Finch and Jayce Morgan came through with a run-a-ball partnership of 44, Finch hitting 29 off 35 balls and Morgan seeing it through to the end, unbeaten on 31 off 31 (4 fours).
“We got 70 from our last three batsmen,’’ Damiano noted. “That’s pretty impressive.’’
Asked if Finch and Morgan were capable with the bat, he shot back: “I wouldn’t have thought so until yesterday. It came as a surprise, really.’’

St Bernard’s opening bowler and captain Luke Davis took 6-81 off 21 overs, but his Tonners counterpart Damiano more than matched his effort.