UNITED’S Bevan Coleman looked to the other end of the wicket whenever he needed inspiration to keep batting in the Manning third grade cricket clash against Old Bar at Cundletown.
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He knew he was getting close to the century. But it was boiling hot – officially 38 degrees but it felt hotter on the field. Bevan, 44, had opened the innings and admits he was starting to struggle.
“It was hot enough when we started batting and it just kept getting hotter,’’ Bevan, who opened the innings, said.
However, the prospect of making his century while batting with his son, Jake, 13, was all the motivation he needed to get his 100, heat or no heat.
“When I made it to the 80s I was struggling a bit. The old legs were getting wobbly,’’ Bevan said with a grin.
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“Jake kept saying to me ‘keep going dad, you’ll get there’, ’’
Bevan gradually worked his way to 99.
“Jake told me he was ready to run at any time. ‘Just hit it and I’m off,’ he said.”
However, Bevan took an easier route. He hit a boundary – one of 15 he struck during the innings. Then he retired on 103 in the 26th over. United made a hefty 297 and then skittled Old Bar for 121. Bevan kept wickets and took one catch.
“There was no way I was going to run anymore,’’ he said.
He’s scored a couple of centuries previously, with his best being 147.
“But that was a few years ago,’’ Bevan added.
“Batting with Jake made this one more special.’’
Bevan is a former A-grader with Old Bar before deciding to drop down the grades. Jake had a couple of matches in third grade last year, backing up from playing juniors in the morning.
However, he’s a regular this summer.
“Jake’s bowling a bit now and he’s been elevated up the order to bat at five,’’ Bevan said.
“He’s going pretty well.’’
Bevan added that playing in the same side as his young bloke is incentive to keep going for a couple more seasons.
The innings didn’t have a happy ending for Jake. He was run out soon after his dad departed for a duck.
“I blame myself for that,’’ Bevan said.
“I should have stayed out there with him.’’
It was a timely win for United and only their second of the season. However, they’re still in last spot and Bevan admits they have some work to do if they’re going to be around come semi-final time.
“We have to win all our games from here,’’ he explained.
“But I’m confident we can do that – we usually play better after Christmas.’’