A SAVAGE batting onslaught from King’s Road’s Tony Swann ensured a dramatic final act as the Thespian Thunderers were defeated on their home stage.

Big Tony took the lead role in the demolition of the Thesps’ total of 80 from their 15 overs.

He blasted 38 from just 23 balls, sealing victory one delivery before the final curtain was scheduled to fall on the performance.

A strong performance from the Orange Caps’ supporting cast – notably opening bowlers Adam Majeed and Liam Creedon – ensured that the Thunderers total was kept under control.

Liam returned astonishing figures of 3-7 off his three overs, and would have bagged a fourth wicket but for a drop. David Hughes, who couldn’t catch swine flu on a Mexican pig farm, spilled a chance on the run from mid-off to mid-on.

At the other end, Adam was almost unplayable and his three overs went for just four runs and also included the wicket of PJ Luard.

The Thespians’ tragic performance with the bat also saw wickets fall to Tony, who took 1-19 and Dan Howard (1-9).

All-rounder Leon Watson also took a wicket, but only after being the victim of a savage performance from Harry Hadden-Paton, who smashed 22 off the final over before being stumped by Tom Barnes.

Leon and Jamie Keating set the scene for the Road’s reply, rapidly putting on 22 for the first wicket before The Poet fell for six.

With Tom fresh from scoring the Orange Caps’ first ever century the stage was set for him and Leon to perform as a double act and steer The Road to victory.

But their partnership turned to farce as a running mix-up saw them both at the same end of the pitch, and Tom was sent back to watch the rest of the show from the sidelines.

David managed only a brief cameo, clean bowled for six, and James Pritchard also fluffed his lines by bagging a duck.

When Leon was dismissed for 22 the show looked to have gone off the road, but Tony was on song to set up a thrilling finale.

A remarkable display of power hitting saw the ball dispatched for six twice and cross the ropes for four fours, leaving The Road on the cusp of victory.

Attempts to upstage Tony by Matt Cocken, who was out for one and Adam – caught trying to smash the winning six off his first ball – both failed.

So it was left to the main man to hit the winning runs off the fifth ball of the 15th over, a third six blasted into the trees at Roehampton Cricket Club giving the Road a winning total of 84.