DVCA 2018-19: Heidelberg’s Justin Whitcher makes club record score of 219

Heidelberg captain-coach Justin Whitcher obliterated Mill Park and his club’s record books with a magnificent double century in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association.

Justin Whitcher celebrates his club record double-ton for Heidelberg on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

Heidelberg captain-coach Justin Whitcher obliterated Mill Park and his club’s record books with a magnificent double century in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association on Saturday.

The 44-year-old smacked 219 on the opening day of the Tigers’ Money Shield fixture at Warringal Park as they raced to 5-347dec.

Whitcher’s knock was the highest individual score in Heidelberg’s long history, topping Jim Christou’s previous mark of 207.

The Lower Eltham life member, who is in his second season at the Tigers, confessed he had no knowledge of the record until teammates informed him when he was on 191 during the drinks break in the second session.

“You play cricket all your life and I’ve made hundreds before, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet I don’t think,” Whitcher said on Sunday morning.

“It just feels like I went out and batted on a normal day’s cricket. I just had a bit more of a day out.

“I’m a smaller frame and have always looked after myself with all the health and fitness.

“I keep doing it so I can keep doing these things and playing sport basically.”

Whitcher had posted three half-centuries for the summer before his weekend heroics, beating his best score of 158 he made as an 18-year-old for Lower Eltham.

He enjoyed a slice of fortune, dropped twice during the memorable innings.

“One was a tough one, which probably would have been a fluke if he took it,” Whitcher said.

“The other one probably should have been taken.

“I could probably say I’ve made 80s and other 100s where I’ve batted better.

“I suppose when you bat that long and make that score, you’re going to run a few risks along the way and play a few outrageous shots.

“You need to have a bit lucky along the way, I think, to get a score like that.

“All the boys were rapt and said it was awesome to watch and all that, but to me it was like I was just batting and got away with some things. Normally once you’re 100 you can get a bit more extravagant.”

Whitcher moved himself to the top of the order in the last game before the Christmas break in a bid to have more of an influence on games as the Tigers chase a finals spot.

He also revealed he set himself the lofty goal in the second half of the season as he looked to get his side “up and going”.

“I had a bit of a secret plan from Christmas with four games left — I wanted to make 400 runs in four games if I opened,” Whitcher said.

“I don’t lack the confidence in thinking I’m capable of that. You don’t expect to make 400 in the last few games and I still haven’t done it yet, but I’m on the way.

“Every year I play I set myself targets.”

Whitcher has returned 286 runs from two hits post-Christmas, boosting his 2018-19 tally to 517 runs at 73.86.

Seven clubs remain in finals contention in an even Money Shield competition with two home-and-away rounds remaining.

“Our percentage is lower in the top-six teams, but we’re in the mix for finals and I thought that we just needed a big score,” Whitcher said.

“It was a bit weird and all of a sudden the runs just kept tallying up. Before you know it, they’re clapping you for 150 or 200.”

Mill Park was 1-33 at stumps after Heidelberg declared with 13 overs remaining.

While Whitcher’s love for Lower Eltham is not in question, he also has no regrets about committing to a move and pursuing his passion for coaching.

“Leaving was a big decision and I’ve had plenty of clubs have a chat over the years,” he said.

“Heidelberg tried for three years and I finally said ‘yes’ in the end and thought ‘now or never’. You can always go back for where you came from.

“It was a little bit of ‘right place, right time’ and I thought I needed a little bit of a change and obviously had aspirations to coach elsewhere at a point.

“I just needed to bite the bullet and have a crack at it I suppose, and they’ve been a really good fit for me. They’re a good, young club.”