By DAVID NAGEL
IT’S a longstanding wedding tradition that brides wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue on their wedding day for good luck.
Well, maybe cricketers should start thinking about doing the same after Catani’s Owen Fitzpatrick belted a club-record 241 in the D-Grade clash against Merinda Park at Catani on Saturday.
Let’s tick off the list.
The something old, well, without meaning to be rude, that could be Fitzpatrick’s long-time friend, and his partner in a record-breaking 313-run partnership on the weekend, club stalwart Brad ‘Snags’ McDonald, who batted through 70 overs himself to finish on 115 not out.
Something new, how about making 182 runs with just 34 swings of the willow, with a staggering 23 sixes iced with 11 fours in a monumental display of power hitting.
Something borrowed, well that’s easy, with the record-breaking gloves and pads borrowed from Bruce McFarlane and a now famous piece of timber also borrowed from Sub-District player Tom Keily.
And something blue, that’s the colour of Catani, the navy blue that Fitzpatrick has worn with pride in many seasons of cricket and football at the Catani Rec Reserve.
Fitzpatrick, who broke McDonald’s club record of 222 not out during their partnership, said it was one of those days when everything just fell into place.
“The funny thing is I wasn’t even supposed to be playing,” he said.
“Dutchy (Ross Kortholt) was actually picked instead of me, but he’d played too many games in the higher grade and went up, so I only found out on Friday night that I was playing.”
Merinda Park’s skipper – WGCA President Brett Armitage – then made a decision that would have diabolical consequences for his side. After winning the toss he sent Catani in to bat and the rest, as they say, is history.
“Yeah, I could only play one week because I’m going to my cousin’s wedding this week so it all worked out perfect,” Fitzpatrick said.
“Then Tom (Keily) went out on the other ground, so I grabbed his bat, got the gloves and pads off Bruce (McFarlane) and then I hit one straight to mid-wicket on 30 and got dropped… I had a bit of luck I suppose but that’s just the way I bat.”
Fitzpatrick, who has also kicked 15 goals in a game for Catani, said sharing the afternoon with good mate McDonald made the day all the more special.
“He’s always been a good talker and he was encouraging me to keep going,” he said.
“We both realised that you don’t get too many opportunities like that… so to share it with him was pretty special.”
