Sore Saints carry bats
PHIL Lang couldn’t walk. And Ronan Healy was limping long into the night.
But nothing — not even the excruciating pain of severe cramp — could take the smile from the faces of the St Peter’s pair, who achieved a rare feat on Saturday.
Lang and Healy, batting simultaneously in different grades at different venues, broke a club record by becoming the first players to carry their bats through an entire innings.
Lang, playing in the Saints’ first XI against Torquay at Spring Creek Reserve, was unbeaten on 127 at stumps as his side posted 6-250.
Healy, playing in the seconds at Walker Oval, made 115 not out as St Peter’s amassed 5-340.
It was the 19-year-old’s first century in senior cricket, making the performance all the more memorable.
“It was good to spend some time in the middle and I was lucky enough to be out there all day,” Healy said.
“I was pretty tired by the end of it, my legs were cramping up most of Saturday night, but it was all worth it.”
Registering his 10th career ton, Lang achieved another milestone in his decorated career by batting through 85 overs for the first time.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done it,” Lang said.
“I have only opened in the last seven or eight years since I came to Geelong — a lot of my junior and Premier cricket was batting at three or in the traditional keeper’s spot at six or seven — so to be able to bat through an innings was pleasing as well.
“From memory, I got a hundred for St Albans in a final against Manifold Heights. I batted through that innings but the match was rain-affected and it was only 65-70 overs. expected. I was there just in time for the speeches, luckily. I missed the ceremony, but I think I was always going to miss that.
“I was hoping to sneak off, but ‘Jacko’ Davis twinged his ’string unfortunately.”
Diving for a ball on the boundary line, Davis strained a hamstring and was forced from the field.
The Two Blues brought on a substitute, but to avoid being another man down for the rest of the afternoon, McGuane opted to stay on the ground and see out the day’s play.
“I was hoping we’d bowl them out and I’d run off because I bat at 11 and I knew I could leave,” McGuane said.
“But when Jacko did his ’string I thought, ‘well, I’m
“That was the only time I’ve got close to actually batting the whole day.”
Healy, too, had never gone the distance in his youthful career, although he did bat almost 80 overs for just 32 in a semi-final two years ago.
“I’m a much better batsman now than I was then,” Healy said.
“I’m getting better, particugoing to have to stay the whole time now’, because we only had one sub fielder and I couldn’t really say, ‘I’ve got a wedding’, and leave.
“I’m sure South Barwon wouldn’t have let us have another sub fielder anyway.
“So I just stayed for the 85 overs because we couldn’t get them out.”
At 6.30pm, McGuane made the dash down the Princes Highway to the wedding, having toiled away for 19 overs, taking 2-56 in South Barwon’s total of 260.
“I had to sneak in the back quickly, but I got there just in time,” he said.
“No one cared, really. I was sitting on the back table, so it was all good.
“I’m sure my family hates larly this year I’ve rotated the strike a lot more than I have in previous years.”
Lang won’t forget his maiden ton for St Peter’s in a while.
He had struggled to get through his innings, with his body shutting down moments after he was put down by Ash Russell in cover.
“I got to 80, and because we haven’t played for a weeks, I me (laughs), but I’d hardly played any cricket.
“I missed the first two weeks and we got rained off for the last two weeks, so it didn’t help.
“I’d only played one game for the year and I thought I probably should play.
“Luckily I did because we would’ve been two bowlers down.”
Davis is only likely to play if he is required to bat, with the injury likely to keep him out of the next two-day clash against Murgheboluc.
“He pulled up OK,” Newtown captain Dylan Hodge said.
“He will miss the next game, though, poor bugger. He was flying before he done it, too. He’s been out best bowler by a mile.” was starting to cramp up in my arms,” he said.
“I played a pull shot off a spinner and I cramped up in my calf. The guy I was batting with, Tommy Neal, said ‘have you done a hammy’ and I said ‘nah, I’m just cramping up everywhere. I even yelled out to the boys on the sidelines, ‘can you bring me out a banana?’”.
“On Sunday, I was no good. I couldn’t get out of bed.”
Lang said he and Healy were proud of Saturday’s performances.
“I don’t think it’s ever happened before,” Lang said.
“We’ve had players bat through (an innings) in the ones, but never two guys on the same weekend for the one club. It’s pretty rare.”