Premier Cricket champion David King dials up heat with tough ton

Ringwood champion David King is no stranger to big numbers. But the Rams’ skipper says Saturday’s knock amid a sweltering Melbourne afternoon was one to savour.

David King says Saturday’s 22nd career knock was one of the toughest. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Ringwood champion David King is no stranger to big numbers.

But the Rams’ skipper says Saturday’s knock amid a sweltering Melbourne afternoon topping 37 degrees was one to savour.

The 300-game veteran is on an unbeaten 148, lifting his side from 5-110 to 6-280 against Prahran at Toorak Park in day one of a must-win clash before finals.

King, who weathered 294 deliveries including the wrath of True Blues leggie Tom Brooks with 5-139 from 41 overs, admits he “didn’t feel great early with 30 off 100-odd balls”.

Twenty-one career centuries had come before Saturday.

Raising the bat a 22nd time toasted “one of the tougher ones”.

“Purely because of the weather,” King said.

“It was probably one of my knocks that I’ve had to work hard for. It didn’t come easy for me.

“Prahran bowled really well – they didn’t give us a lot to score off and it was a bit of a grind … but I was able to cash in a little bit in that last hour and a bit.”

The Rams entered the weekend in fifth spot following a rousing win over reigning premier Carlton, riding a rich vein of form since Christmas – but there is plenty on the line in the final act of the home-and-away season.

“We’ve played really well against the top sides – Richmond, Carlton, Dandenong … these teams are in the top four,” King said.

“It’s a good sign leading into finals and this next week’s going to be really important for us – if we win, there’s an opportunity to potentially finish fourth, worst case fifth, and if we lose or draw, we’re potentially looking at seventh or eighth.”

A second Ryder Medal could soon hang around King’s neck for a season yielding 775 runs and 27 wickets – but the individual accolade pales into insignificance in hot pursuit of another premiership.

“My brother (Michael) tries to predict the Ryder Medal every year, so he’s on my case about it,” King laughed.

“It’s not front of mind … but you get people around you telling you this or that.

“It’s one of those things where if it happens it’s nice, but first and foremost we’re trying to get as far as we can into finals and I’m still playing cricket at this level to try and win another grand final.”