LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET
LVDCL By LIAM DURKIN ONLY the best come from Thorpy. Thorpdale Cricket Club saw a record broken last Saturday. The Blues put up a total of 1/232 against Moe in Round 15 of Premier B in the Latrobe Valley District Cricket League, highlighted by a 203-run partnership for the second wicket between Kayne O’Connell and Matt Powell. O’Connell batted through the innings to remain unbeaten on 108, completing his maiden senior century, while Powell scored 109 not out batting first drop. The pair came together with the scoreboard reading 1/29, and batted the best part of 35 overs. Fittingly, the record was broken at Thorpdale Recreation Reserve, and the home side was able to toast victory later in the afternoon. With a huge total on the board, the Blues made short work of the Lions, bowling them out for 90. Powell backed-up his efforts with the bat, taking 2/15 off six overs, while O’Connell took the new ball. Can you be fined for not giving anyone else a go in club cricket? Powell’s two wickets may have been enough to earn him three votes. O’Connell would be stiff to miss a league award on the back of this, but nonetheless, his name is now up on the honour board at Thorpdale Cricket Club. As fate would have it, O’Connell took the record previously held by his older brother Harley. While they say records are made to be broken, the senior O’Connell might not have been too pleased when he found out who had taken his record. For what it’s worth, the previous record was 180 between Harley O’Connell and Shannon Pickering in season 2011/12. Pickering is still playing for Thorpdale, and amazingly, shares a partnership record with Kayne’s eldest brother, Zac, as well as Powell. Powell is now on the partnership record board three times, the same number of tons he has to his name. Thorpdale remains undefeated and on top of the LVDCL Premier B ladder. The Blues have won three B Grade premierships in recent years (2008/09, 2018/19, 2020/21), and could have another on the way. For a team that is supposedly struggling numbers-wise, they are doing alright.
