MPCA: Long Island’s Michael Chaplin scores 200 not out in semi-final

A batsman who “cracked the sh…” when his captain won the toss and batted smashed a devastating double century in an MPCA semi-final.

Long Island cricketer Michael Chaplin batted like a man in a hurry on Saturday — and that’s because he was.

With his best mate’s bucks party in full swing down at Rye, he was keen to finish the MPCA Provincial 2nds semi-final against Langwarrin as quickly as possible.

The result was spectacular.

Chaplin blasted 200 not out off 127 balls, bringing up his double ton from the final ball of the innings as Long Island piled up 1-318 off 40 overs.

The man on a mission smashed 6 sixes and 18 fours.

All this on a lush, slow Karingal footy ground.

Chaplin rode his luck — he was dropped on five and again later — but all agreed it was one of the most impressive power hitting displays seen in a final.

In reply, Langwarrin could only manage 8-116.

Michael Chaplin with the wicketkeeping gloves on.

Immediately after the game, Chaplin had a quick shower and headed to the bucks party.

Speaking on Sunday, Chaplin revealed he “wasn’t feeling it” as he and his brother drove to the game on Saturday.

“I said to him, ‘I don’t feel it today, I want to bowl first’,” he said.

“And then Moose (Long Island teammate James Haley) messaged me saying we’re batting first as we were pulling into the ground and I cracked the sh..s.

“My brother said to me after the game, ‘oh, it couldn’t have been that bad’.”

Chaplin shared a 219-run opening partnership with Josh Dowling (86 off 104 balls) and an unconquered 99-run stand with Chris Hay (12no).

He said he’d never batted so well.

“It all happened pretty quickly in the last 20 (overs),” Chaplin said.

“That’s my highest senior score. I made 191 back when I was in under 17s but that was a long time ago and it was completely different cricket.

“Nah, I definitely haven’t batted better than that. I obviously had a couple of dropped chances but I haven’t hit a ball better for a while, and that’s over the last couple of weeks, it’s all rolled into each other really.”

Michael Chaplin raises his bat as he walks off after making 200 not out.

Chaplin, 32, is in a purple patch of form.

Last week he made 110 against Mt Eliza and before that he cracked 73no against Sorrento. That’s 383 runs in his past three trips to the crease.

Chaplin’s score was a Long Island club record for a final and only five runs short of the club’s all-time highest score.

The MPCA record score in a one-day game is 280, by Jeff Bluhm, playing for Mt Eliza, in 2003.

Chaplin will be out to cap a superb month with a premiership next weekend.

And then he’ll switch sporting codes and put on the footy boots for another season with Frankston YCW.