MPCA: Four Flinders batters score centuries in big day for the club

Four Sharks players scored centuries on Saturday, prompting officials to reach for the 149-year-old club’s record books. See what they uncovered...

Luke Reynolds (151no) and Shane Beggs (197) shared a 300-run partnership.

There’s been a deluge of runs at Flinders Cricket Club.

On Saturday, four Sharks players scored centuries — Shane Beggs (197), Luke Reynolds (151no), Mark Maddock (119) and Sam Gove (108).

The run spree had officials reaching for the 149-year-old club’s record books.

“Four centuries in one day…I can’t remember it happening,” Flinders stalwart Dwayne Field said.

A highlight was a 300-run second wicket partnership in the Second XI by 50-year-old Beggs and young gun Reynolds, 17.

It broke George Smith and William Matthews’ 275-run partnership in 1927-28 — set nearly a hundred years ago.

Beggs and Reynolds joined forces at 1-41 and took the score to 1-341 when Beggs was dismissed...the seconds made 5-409.

Field was skipper of the twos and watched the master and his apprentice pile on the runs.

“They just started off slow and built and towards the end they started slapping them around,” he said.

“But in saying that Moorooduc only had nine players.

“But their grass was knee high so I sort of reckon it evens it out.

“It was pretty good to watch a young player and an old fella batting together.”

It was Reynold’s second century; he scored his maiden ton in the thirds when he was 15.

“It’s great having young guys who know how to make big scores,” Field said.

“He finished on 151 so it was pretty impressive.”

Beggs, who is nearing 5000 runs for Flinders, is heading to Adelaide this week to represent the Victorian Over 50s in the national cricket championships.

Sam Gove has been in mint form for Flinders.

Gove’s century in Flinders’ First XI was his second of the season, following his 105no in the opening match. The talented teen is attracting interest from Premier Cricket clubs.

“Clubs are ringing him but I think he’s just enjoying playing for us,” Field said.

“I think he will (go) eventually.”

Maddock, who is captaining Flinders’ Third XI, has bounced back from a heart issue last season.

On Saturday he opened the batting with his brother Brett and brought up his fourth century for the Sharks, in the process, like Beggs, edging close to 5000 runs for the club.

Flinders’ run spree coincided with the return of two-day cricket — more overs and red ball.

“Most of our players like to bat time so I thought it would suit us a bit more but I didn’t expect four hundreds,” Field said.

But not everyone at Flinders peeled off runs on Saturday.

Field, himself, managed only one.

“I came in with about four balls left and I thought I’ve got nothing to gain here, if I block out four balls I’m going to cop grief so I got off the mark and then just tried to hit a six and got clean bowled,” he chuckled.

History:

Flinders CC Top Team Totals (350+);

1. 10/431 1st XI vs. Sorrento 1927/28 (George Smith 154 & William Matthews 116)

2. 9/417 2nd XI vs. Dromana 1997/98 (Tim Wilkinson 139 & Chris Munday 123)

3. 5/409 2nd XI vs. Moorooduc 2022/23 (Shane Beggs 197 & Luke Reynolds 151no)

4. 10/390 3rd XI vs. Crib Point 2000/01 (Gary Sanford 92, Glen Wadley 60 & Dom Clarke 58)

5. 9/371 1st XI vs. Moorooduc 2022/23 (Sam Gove 108, Kane Hawkins 80 & Tom Pengelly 55)

6. 7/370 1st XI vs. Skye 2004/05 (Craig Friebe 155, Jamie Symes 100no & Tim Wilkinson 62)

7. 7/365 1st XI vs. Moorooduc 1999/00 (Jamie Symes 119 & Glen Wadley 80)

8. 10/364 1st XI vs. Seaford 2004/05 (Jamie Symes 131no, Craig Friebe 108 & Tim Wilkinson 64)

9. 8/358 1st XI vs. Mornington Diggers 1997/98 (Shane Beggs 135 & Glen Wadley 72

10. 3/353 3rd XI vs. Dromana 2015/16 (Andy Tuck 121, Jesse Hunt 90no, Nathan Lucas 61 & Matt Hayward 56)

11. 10/353 4th XI vs. French Island 1999/00 (Bruce Commons 103, Mick Wright 101 & David Hunt 53)

12. 3/352dec 2nd XI vs. Rye 2016/17 (Mark Maddock 181no & Lachlan Adams 103no

Beggsy 197 is the second highest individual score in the history of the club.

Top Individual Scores (150+);

1. 209- Jay Munday (3rd XI)

2. 197- Shane Beggs (2nd XI)

3. 191no- Glen Wadley (3rd XI)

4. 181no- Mark Maddock (2nd XI)

5. 169- Gavin Symes (3rd XI)

6. 161- Asanga Severirante (1st XI)

7. 159- Jamie Symes (1st XI)

8. 156no- Jamie Symes (1st XI)

9. 155- Craig Friebe (1st XI)

10. 154- George Smith (1st XI)

11. 154- Chris Williams (2nd XI)

12. 152- Nathan Schrag (3rd XI)

13. 151no- Tom Clements (1st XI)

14. 151no- Luke Reynolds (2nd XI)

15. 151no- Dwayne Field (3rd XI)