Jack Iverson smashes 197 not out off 81 balls for Salesian College

Salesian College student Jack Iverson gave 200 a nudge in a dazzling knock in the Associated Catholic Colleges competition.

Jack Iverson after hitting a century for Richmond this season.

Jack Iverson was happy to retire at 100.

Told to bat on, the Melbourne schoolboy finished with a staggering score in an Associated Catholic Colleges Twenty20 match at Grant Reserve in Altona yesterday.

The 17-year-old from Salesian College opened the batting and blitzed 197 not out off 81 balls against Emmanuel College.

The left-hander’s near-double century included 12 sixes and 21 fours.

Iverson’s blast lifted Salesian College to 2-246.

It dismissed its opponent for 30.

It was Iverson’s fourth century this season. He hit his first (105 retired) for the Oakleigh Under 17s, his second (103) for Premier club Richmond in the Third XI and his third (114) for the Tigers in the Under 17 Dowling Shield.

A modest Iverson said last night the Emmanuel bowling was inexperienced.

“I think three or four of their blokes were playing their first game,’’ he said.

“It was good to make some runs but I’m keeping that in mind.

“I did want to retire. I felt a bit bad, to be honest.

“When I was batting I wasn’t going to stop hitting them, because you don’t hold back in a game. But, yeah, like I said, they had some blokes playing their first game.’’

Iverson came through the juniors at Oakleigh Cricket Club before joining Richmond.

He has been one of the best batsmen in the Dowling Shield series, sitting fifth on the run list with 244 at an average of 61.