FRUSTRATION about not converting 50s into centuries has seen Scottish import Liam Naylor blast a new Sunraysia Cricket Association league batting record.
In an important game for Mildura East as they seek to cement a finals position, the 23-year-old smashed 260 off 218 balls against Merbein at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
Playing his natural game, the opening bat was 122 at tea and got the instructions to continue “batting sensibly, but just kick on a little bit” with the hosts keen to have a bowl before stumps.
At 160, skipper Brad Thomas sent the message to the aggressive right-hander that he had a license to get to 200, regardless of time.
When the double-century was brought up – beating Naylor’s personal best of 167 for Scottish club Royal High Corstorphine last season – the 23-year-old unleashed, racing to 260.
“(Thomas) suggested 300, but I knew I wasn’t going to get to 300 considering I was swinging every ball,” Naylor said.
“On 100 I was struggling due to my hip but I took some medication for that and by the time that kicked in I wasn’t really feeling anything, I was just going off straight adrenaline.
“I think once I got past 200, I started hitting a few sixes towards where everyone was sitting and the boys were getting up and about, that was quite good, I quite enjoyed that part.”
Naylor – who has a cap for Scotland and a raft of appearances for Scotland A – said he was determined to convert his seventh half-century of the season.
“Up until yesterday I thought, I’ve only kicked on once and scored 100, so I was probably a little bit disappointed in myself,” he said.
“Once you get to 50 you are in, even though it’s quite hard to do there’s no reason you can’t keep going as long as you bat time and stay as patient as possible; everyone’s going to bowl bad bowls.
“There’s no point in giving it away and you’re back in the changerooms complaining to yourself about how you’ve got out when it’s your own doing.”
The innings – which included 29 fours and seven sixes – surpasses Scott Steel’s 235 for Irymple earlier this season and a 228 from Mildura Settlers’ Jason Morrison several years ago.
Naylor – who also has a 144 for Scotland A against the USA – said he was surprised how well he had adapted to Australian conditions, even as the mercury nudged 36 on Saturday.
“It wasn’t too bad, we had someone at square leg with drinks, I’ve felt it worse, to be honest,” he said.
“And the pitch was good, it was a good cricket wicket. I thought it was going to break up towards the back end of the day but it stayed together pretty nicely.”
Joshua Berry provided the anchor, hitting 71 off 146 at third drop, before Naylor eventually holed out to Dillon Furze off the bowling of Angus Smith.
It enabled East to declare at 3/373, and get 10 overs at Merbein – with the visitors slumping to 3/16 at stumps.
Naylor was lured to the club by former Scottish captain Craig Wright, who played at East in the early 2000s and had rated the opportunity to develop his game.
It puts East in the box seat to consolidate third sport, and maybe move up to second, ahead of the final day of the home-and-away rounds on Saturday.
In other games, Nichols Point posted 177 as they sought to upset ladder leaders Gol Gol and snatch a finals spot.
Opener Brad Rosenzweig made 42, English import Theo Todhunter 32 and Dean Fulco 28 to give the fifth-placed hosts a chance.
Over at John Hall Oval, fourth-placed Mildura West are facing a daunting task on Saturday after being set 267 by reigning premiers Irymple.
Skipper Mark Thomson led the way for the Swallows, hitting 61 at the top of the order while Scott Steel continued his monster season with 50 and Caleb Garraway added 31* at the bottom of the order.
Meanwhile, in the dead rubber, Coomealla Wentworth have taken first innings points after chasing down Mildura Settlers’ 145.
Jay Turlan and Liam Freeman took three wickets apiece for the hosts at Coomealla, while Settlers’ Beau Kiel (44) fell just short of his 50.
In reply, Colby Wade and Mitchell Kemp both surpassed 40 as Coomealla Wentworth finished the day at 5/176.
