Local Cricket: Chris Benedek breaks records for Devon Meadows with 171 not-out

Casey-South Melbourne batsman Chris Benedek blasted off with a record knock for Devon Meadows in its T20 clash last night. But it wasn’t the only record broken...

What a spectacle.

Casey-South Melbourne batsman Chris Benedek turned on a record-breaking performance for West Gippsland association club Devon Meadows in its T20 win against Gembrook on Tuesday night.

The former Meadows junior, on loan as a marquee player, blasted off with 171 not-out off 73 balls, smacking 18 fours and 8 sixes on the way to a 3-234 total – a T20 record score for the club as it defeated the hosts by 76 runs.

Benedek smacked 18 fours and 8 sixes on the way to the record 3-234 total. Picture: Supplied

But it wasn’t the only milestone.

Benedek broke Brad Miles’ club record for highest individual score in a T20 match – 127 off 57 – as Tuesday night’s total surpassed the previous best set in 2017 (0-230) from the same game.

He was in the thick of the action as a support act to Miles on that occasion four years ago, knocking 80 off 63 balls. But the Premier Swan took centre stage last night.

Not much got by Benedek with only 18 dot balls seen, as he went from 101 off 49 to 150 in just 14 balls – and Meadows president Mick Floyd says it was a sight to behold.

“It was fun to watch!,” Floyd said.

“He was extremely measured ... and it was almost clinical at one point – it didn’t really matter where they bowled it, he’d hit it, and hit it a long way.

“There were a full range of shots, mostly straight … but the thing that stood out the most was the timing … he’s not a big guy, not a power hitter, but the technique and everything were explosive – his last 103 runs I think came off 40 balls.”

Benedek was ‘extremely measured’ in his approach last night, president Mick Floyd says. Picture: Supplied

And the last 65 balls yielded 158 runs, as Benedek combined with Coby Podd, who smacked 30 not-out off 20 to share in the unbroken fourth wicket stand.

Benedek’s record knock came after he topscored for Casey-South Melbourne’s Second XI last Saturday, with 73 runs off 94 deliveries in its clash with Dandenong.

The Panthers hope to see more of the batsman when Premier cricket duties permit.

“He’s one of the favourite sons (at Devon Meadows), I know a lot of the guys follow his progress very closely and we were delighted when we found out he got some runs on Saturday as well,” Floyd said.

“I think he enjoys it when he gets the chance to come down.”