Seven players, chasing 325, no problem for Shane Harvey’s Olympic Colts

Olympics Colts Second XI only had seven players on Saturday and were set 325 to win … enter local footy legend Shane Harvey.

Shane Harvey in action for North Heidelberg.

It sounds like a classic tall tale from the local pub but it happened.

Olympic Colts Second XI only had seven players, were set 325 to win and what happened next will go down in North Metro Cricket Association folklore.

Shane Harvey smashed an unbeaten 222 to carry his depleted team to a memorable two-wicket win over Dennis at McDonnell Park on Saturday.

The only down side … running out his 14-year-old son, Archer.

Exact stats weren’t kept but Harvey says he faced about 120 balls and hit 18 boundaries and 13 sixes in a dazzling display that rivals any of his exploits on the footy field for North Heidelberg.

“It was a good day out. I haven’t had that much fun batting for a while, that’s for sure,” he said.

“I was just swinging to be honest, it was a pretty small ground and I knew we needed 10 runs an over.

“We only had seven players so if we’d lost a couple of wickets it would have been all over.

“We fielded with seven players – a bowler, a keeper and five fielders – so that wasn’t a lot of fun let me tell you.”

The lack of man power explains Dennis’ incredible first innings, which saw Cameron Bath and Curtis Hancock both score centuries – 155 and 104 not out respectively – and post 4-324.

In the chase, Colts were 1-5 when skipper Dylan Stanley fell for four.

Bryce and Mark Coombe then put on 55 for the second wicket before Mark fell for 45, bringing Harvey to the crease.

Bryce fell for 23 with the score 3-179.

Shane Harvey celebrates a goal for North Heidelberg. Picture: Nathan William Media

Harvey only decided to play so he could line-up alongside Archer, who made eight, and the pair put on 64 runs before disaster struck.

“We played together last week for the first time but we didn’t get to bat together, so I said let’s play again,” Harvey said.

“The worst thing was I was trying to hog the strike and I ran him out on the last ball of an over, so he’s not talking to me.

“It was a great experience, we made 70 or so together, I’d give him one or two balls at the end of the over and he’s done excellently.

“I said to him ‘you’ve got to get faster, mate’ and he hit me with the bat but he was fine after the win.”

Harvey and James Webb (18) finished off the win with just three balls remaining.

The seventh batter Caitlyn Marmo, stepping up from Colts’ Lenore Smith Shield side, was no doubt happy to watch on from the sidelines.

Harvey usually only plays a couple of games a season to play alongside his father, Neil.

He smashed 136 in a game last season playing alongside Neil and brother, Brent.

However, Neil was a late withdrawal on Saturday.

DVCA: HEIDELBERG DAD’S ADVICE FOR LOWER ELTHAM SON

LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL CRICKET NEWS HERE

PREMIER: FORMER BIG BASH STAR EYES DOUBLE FLAG WIN

“I usually like to play with my old man, he still plays, and we try to play together,” Harvey said.

“He was meant to play on the weekend but he was a late withdrawal, he got a better offer on a 35 degree day – he went to the races.”

Harvey incredible double hundred lifts him to second on Colts run-scorers charts this season behind old footy rival, Macleod’s Justin White.

He’s not sure if he’ll pad up again this season but is looking forward to footy season kicking off in April.