CAPTAIN Joe Price smashed consecutive sixes off the last two balls of the day to give Toronto Workers unlikely momentum as they chase Merewether's imposing first innings total of 307 in their Newcastle district cricket match at Ron Hill Oval.
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Toronto will resume at 0-13 on Saturday.
All of the runs came off the final over of the day.
Price's late flurry was as audacious as it was unexpected.
Merewether's pace duo of Sam Gilmour (two overs) and Steve Baker (one over) had failed to concede a run.
When dangerous left-arm spinner Tim O'Neill was brought on to bowl the fourth and final over, close-in catchers crowded the batsmen.
Toronto's Steve Wratten pushed a sedate single off the first ball of O'Neill's over, giving no indication of what was to follow.
Price then smashed the fifth delivery high over the fence and into the creek at the back of the ground.
Merewether was forced to produce a new Kookaburra ball to complete the over.
Price repeated the feat, striking another six down the ground.
Only a tree saved the new ball from a watery grave.
Earlier, Merewether recovered from 4-56 to post 307.
Pat Darwen (86) and David Celep (89) led the fightback for the visitors.
Before the toss, Toronto was unsettled by the late withdrawal of strike bowler Brinn Osland.
"Brinn injured his knee in the warm-up and he'll be having an MRI scan tomorrow," Toronto club president Aaron Gray said on Tuesday. Corey Piccirillo was called up as the replacement.
But it was left-arm seamer Andrew Nicolai who took the bowling honours, claiming 5-47 from 18.2 overs.
"Andrew just surprises us year after year. He's really cemented his spot in our first grade team," Gray said.
Any five-wicket haul against the classy Merewether batting line-up was a significant achievement, he said.
Toronto welcomes Greg Hunt and Matt Peterson back for the run chase this Saturday.
"The boys are on a high and the mood is really good," Gray said.
"We bat all the way down to No 11 now, the wicket is good, and the outfield is quick. If we were ever going to chase down 300 runs to win, then this is the week it could happen," Gray said.