CSB: South Caulfield’s Tom Morris and Brad Erasmus both make 203no in 0-428 total

Channel Nine sports reporter Tom Morris has spoken about his “unicorn day’’ after he and Brad Erasmus blazed double centuries in Cricket Southern Bayside.

Tom Morris (left) and Brad Erasmus after their 428-run opening partnership for South Caulfield on Saturday.

That loud smash in Bonbeach on Saturday afternoon was the sound of records breaking in the Cricket Southern Bayside competition.

South Caulfield openers Brad Erasmus and Tom Morris set a new high mark after carrying their bats to make 0-428 against St Brigid’s St Louis in Championship division.

Erasmus made 203 not out, with 11 fours and 8 sixes — after being dropped on one at second slip in the opening over of the day at Bonbeach Oval No. 4.

Morris, the Channel Nine sports reporter, was also unbeaten on 203 (with 20 fours, 3 sixes) and later described the innings as “surreal’’.

“I never thought I’d make a double ton,” Morris, a former St Kilda first XI player, said.

“And I’ve got to be honest, the ground was small (and) the conditions were batter friendly, but it was one of those days, it was a unicorn day, it will never happen again.

“I had to pinch myself. And to be able to share it with someone else was even more special.”

Tom Morris (left) and Brad Erasmus (right) are greeted by South Caulfield captain Will Russell after their 428-run stand.

Tom Morris raises his bat after reaching 200.

Apart from Erasmus’ initial let off, and a stifled appeal for leg before, the Erasmus and Morris union was devoid of chances or near misses.

The two right-handers were in complete control, pacing their partnership beautifully.

From 0-160 at tea, they made a conscious decision, at 0-260 at the 60 over mark, to up the tempo.

“We just decided to treat it like a T20 and we got 178 off the last 20 overs which was party time,’’ Morris said.

“It was just fun. Very rare in your cricket career do you get a chance with your batting to be just relaxed and that’s exactly how it felt. And the opposition by then were pretty sick of us I think. It was just awesome.”

Both batters kept pace with each other throughout, notching milestones almost with minutes of each other along the way.

Morris was first to 100, but Erasmus brought up his double ton first — with a mighty straight six into the nearby golf course.

The former Englishman was gassed, though, with cramp setting in — but he desperately wanted Morris to get his “double” too.

At the start of the final over of the innings, Morris was on 195.

With fielders on the fence, Morris bunted one to mid wicket and — somehow — Erasmus found the strength to scurry back for a second.

“He turned and came back for two, it was actually amazing,” Morris said.

“So that put me on strike on 197, and I edged a four through third man to bring up the 200 which was just an adrenalin rush.

“But I have to thank Brad for getting me back on strike in the first place.”

Erasmus, who played in County club Surrey’s second XI at 16, said it was “a great day” and an achievement he’ll cherish forever.

He poured praise on Morris.

“He was very calming with the new ball, he’s a very accomplished two-day opening batter, Tom,” he said.

“He’s very calming, he’s got a very simple game plan. We just got through the new ball. It’s a blur.”

Morris said he’ll never forget the moment they reached 400, a monumental figure in any grade of cricket.

“I just went into shake his (Erasmus’) hand and he said, ‘give me a hug’,’’ he said.

“So I gave him a hug and I’m a lot smaller than Brad so I just sort of tucked in under his wing…it was a nice feeling. He’s a phenomenal player.’’

South Caulfield batter Brad Erasmus.

South Caulfield coach Jason Jacoby described the partnership as “unbelievable’’ and said he’d “never seen anything like it in my life”.

“From a purist’s side of things, yeah, there were some sixes and fours and that type of thing but the amount of singles and just how they ran between wickets and worked together, I took a step back and thought, gee, that was really professional, a really disciplined innings from both of them,” he said.

“You think when you get to 150 you might just slog a bit or get a bit slack running between the wickets but they just kept at it. It was a really disciplined, professional innings.”

Jacoby said 26-year-old Erasmus, who scored a double century for South Caulfield in 2019, was in the midst of another “incredible year”.

“He just sets himself,’’ he said.

“He’s a talent that’s for sure.”

Jacoby said Morris, 32, had been a valuable addition this season with his energy and ability.

“He’s just a really, really nice guy, he’s really genuine,” he said.

“He’s a good player, a real thinker, a really smart cricketer. He works himself into the innings and up lifts when he has to, a really good team player, the boys love him the way he plays and goes about it.”

But Jacoby spared a thought for South No. 3 Lewis Mildenhall, who had the pads on for 80 overs, waiting, waiting...

The Erasmus-Morris 428-run partnership breaks all records in both the CSB and at South Caulfield.