By Nick Creely
When Devon Meadows star Brad Miles is in the mood to score, there is arguably no other player in the West Gippsland Cricket Association more unstoppable.
And in the Panthers’ District Division clash with Tooradin at Glover Reserve on Saturday, Miles not only surpassed previous records, but completely flattened them.
The left-handed power hitter smashed his way to an extraordinary 260 – a knock that included 24 fours and 12 sixes – all in just 223 balls, as his side posted an utterly formidable 8/441.
That makes it a total of 168 runs scored solely in boundaries.
And he was only in the 91 at tea, making it even more mind boggling that only hours later almost tripled his score.
It could have been a completely different story, however, with Miles dropped when he was just on six.
Miles’ feat is now the highest score in Devon Meadows Cricket Club history and the highest score ever made in the District Division, surpassing Ben Maroney’s 201 against Nyora in the 2009/10 season.
From the Panthers’ perspective, it is the highest team score ever made in their first XI, while Miles’s 162-run partnership with all-rounder Lucas Carroll (31) is the club’s record for the fifth wicket.
Since joining the Panthers for the 2016-’17 season, Miles has scored an incredible 1277 runs at 70.94 – including Twenty20s – from just 20 matches and 21 innings, with three centuries and seven half centuries.
Previous to this, Miles has dominated with both Beaconsfield when they were in the WGCA and Aura Vale when they were in the FGDCA.
Tooradin skipper Kane Latham – who was in the field watching Miles send the ball to all parts – explained from his perspective how it was to witness the innings, and how he approached the day as captain.
“It wasn’t as tough as you would imagine (fielding),” he said.
“We had a chance that we should’ve taken when he was on six, and he’s a class bat that you don’t give chances to.
“He hits the ball clean and hard, it’s actually great to watch.
“It was really about trying to stop him scoring, more than getting him out once he got going. He likes to score, so our best chance to get him out was to tie him down and wait for a mistake.”
While Miles feasted on the Gulls bowlers in an astonishing display, Latham praised his side for never giving in and keeping the energy up in the field, and said that youngsters such as Mitchell Tharle, Connor O’Riordan and Ned Harrison led the way with their enthusiasm.
“Keeping our boys in good spirits was actually pretty easy,” he said.
“Often, we talk about these are the types of games that make you who you are. It’s all good to laugh and joke around when you’re flogging sides, but real character is built when you’re on the other end of these innings.
“Our boys were in great spirits all day, having a bit of a laugh and I’m really proud of the kids in particular. They kept their heads up and their voice high all the way until the last ball.”
Latham said that with players such as Miles, taking the chances when they present them is vital.
“(There) wasn’t really a lot to learn from it to be honest, other than to take the chance when a batsman gives one early,” he said.
“But our boys toiled hard all day and should be proud, but Brad just showed how good he is. He didn’t give a chance from six until he was on 220.”
The Gulls face a daunting task of trying to chase down the record breaking 441 when play resumes on Saturday.
