Knight’s big day a club record

NATHAN Freitag was just trying to help Kingborough rebound from a batting disaster a week earlier — little did he know he would do that by smashing a CTPL club record 219 against Glenorchy on Saturday.

After a dubious start, the 28-year-old Knights skipper put the Magpies to the sword, hammering an unbeaten 219 runs, 130 of them in boundaries.

“It’s a bit surreal,” Freitag said. “I never thought I’d make a score like that. It’s a club record so I am very honoured to hold the record.

“The week before we got bowled out for 88, which wasn’t too pleasing as a captain. For me, it was great to bounce back the way we did. It was really impressive.”

Freitag is now in his fourth season at Kingborough, having moved from Victoria.

His previous best score was 144 playing regional cricket for Centrals in Gippsland, and 138 for Casey South Melbourne in first grade.

His double ton got off to a shaky start. “It was a bit scratchy early — I got dropped when I was on 10 and then again on 12,” he said.

“The Glenorchy bowlers bowled really well in the first two sessions so it was really hard going for me and Dylan Hay [58].

“As the day went on the pitch got a bit flatter and the bowlers got a bit more tired.

“So [coach] Clive Rose [98 not out] and I were able to cash in.”

Kingborough’s goal is to make the finals and challenge for the title.

“We’ve got a lot of young players and we are working at getting more and more first grade games into them,” he said.

“I’d like to see the likes of Dylan Hay, Rhys Ward, Cam Whealtey and Clive play Second XI and first class cricket — that’s the big goal for our club, to try and produce first class cricketers.”

Freitag’s cracking knock drew the attention of state selectors but he is not getting his hopes high.

“If that happens, it happens,” he said.

“It’s always the dream, but for me I like to see my mates and teammates push their case and succeed.”