Ledger’s legend grows in historic 120-year first

Steve Ledger has gone where no man has gone before in more than 120 years of First Division cricket for Nambour Cutters. Score a century and take five wickets in a match.

Steve Ledger has created history for Nambour Cutters after scoring a century and taking a five wicket haul in one match. Ledger pictured here playing for Kenilworth.

Steve Ledger has gone where no man has gone before in more than 120 years of First Division cricket for Nambour Cutters. Score a century and take five wickets in a match.

In an all-rounder's performance for the ages, the Cutters' skipper was at his brilliant best against Coolum Sharks with a match winning knock of 116 from 132.

Ledger's runs made up almost half of Nambour's first innings total of 234.

With the ball, Ledger's off-spin wreaked havoc as his claimed figures of 5-41.

In Cutters' second innings Ledger then belted 42 off 22 to wrap a comprehensive display with both bat and ball.

To cap it off, Ledger's performance came on his 200th senior appearance for the club.

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"Well, I was dropped on about 20-odd, a tough chance on a caught and bowled, so luck was definitely involved," the ever-modest opener said.

"But it's pretty rare to get that and five wickets in a game."

Sunshine Coast Cricket Association's Pat Drew said Ledger's feat had only been matched by three others, Matthew Anderson, Kent Officer and Paul Henricks. 

Drew said Ledger is also the only player in SCCA history to notch up twin centuries in both innings of a match.

While the history of the performance will be something to cherish when the bails come off on his career, Ledger was more satisfied to do his job for the team.

The win lifted Nambour off the bottom of the table.

"I'm more just really glad to get the win, we haven't had too many this season, so that was good," the dairy farmer said.

"It's been a season of millimetres for us, some really close games where we've lost by two or three runs.

"It could have easily been different.

"Honestly, I was just glad to be able to get the win, everyone was really happy.

"History is nice to look back on in 20 years' time, but not so much at the time."

Cutters' club president Jeremy Donahoo said Ledger's modesty was simply part of his character.

"He has a long history of always being about trying to improve the team rather than chase personal glory," Donahoo said.

"Before the game I was talking to him and he said he just wanted to celebrate his 200th with a win.

"So to get the win and make a bit of history was fitting."

 

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Donahoo and the club's statistician Col Hawken confirmed Ledger was the first player in Nambour's First Division history to make a century and take five wickets in a match.

"It's quite a remarkable effort," Donahoo said.

"The club has been around at least 120 years."

Ledger first joined the Cutters for under-10s, and save for a few stints with the Sunshine Coast Scorchers, he has been a constant clubman.

"I have grown up with this club, dad played all his cricket here, and both sides of my family have history here," the 37-year-old said.

"Not sure yet if my boys will join, that's their call.

"They're four and six at the moment, a long way off, they just play in the backyard at this stage."

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