Tyson Bray breaks record on debut for Northern Districts Cricket Club
TYSON Bray will always cherish his first A-grade game for Northern Districts Cricket Club after making the Jets’ highest individual score on debut.
TYSON Bray will always cherish his first A-grade game for Northern Districts Cricket Club.
The 18-year-old opening batsman made 107 off 223 balls against Port Adelaide at Port Reserve on November 5 – believed to be the club’s highest individual score on debut.
Bray, whose uncle Anthony McInerney is a premiership player at the club, says playing for the Jets’ top team is a dream come true, let alone performing so well.
“It was so good getting the baggy blue then to go out and make a hundred was an awesome experience,” Bray, of Greenwith, says.
“You’ll never forget one of those feelings.”
Bray’s five-hour knock included 16 fours. He combined with Jets captain and former Redback Mark Cosgrove for a 260-run partnership.
“Once I got to 50 I thought, ‘don’t stop now, keep going’.
“He (Cosgrove) was keeping me level-headed, telling me there was plenty of time and a whole day to bat.
“I didn’t know I was even close to a hundred until I was told I was on 99 by the opposition.
“I clipped one off my legs for one and I could hear mum screaming.
“She was a little bit teary and my grandma was a little bit teary because they knew what it meant.”
Bray was eventually bowled by Redbacks seamer Nick Benton, leaving the score 4/333.
“The supporters and teammates were giving me a round of applause and pats on the back.
“I was disappointed to get out but I had a massive grin on my face.
“Everyone got around me (after the day’s play) and bought me a drink.”
Bray has been playing for the Jets since under-12s and started in the senior ranks four seasons ago.
He hopes to cement his spot in the team by making runs consistently for the rest of the season.