By JARROD POTTER
CASHING in on his luck drove Tyler Clark to a maiden West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) century and with it, saved Officer’s slim finals hopes.
Clark, 17, from Pakenham Upper, was crucial to the Officer’s rebuilt innings after the side lost its top order for 18 runs.
The revival was led against the odds with Clark’s stunning maiden-century, smashing 104 to guide the side to 229 by stumps and keep their slim finals chances alive.
Like mythical Atlas, Clark shouldered the batting burden – starting with Peter Quinn (27).
The duo hit the bad ball – in particular Quinn who smashed Sam Van Der Zalm (0/18) about – but there would be another round of set-backs in the tale of the Ant-Men.
Panthers Matt Hutchinson (5/36) and Mick Floyd (2/69) found a second wind to knock over the middle order.
But Clark was the common denominator in Officer’s innings, and wiith help down the order – coming from Shane White (12), Brayden McHugh (15) and an important 50-run stand with Lachie Porter (24no) – Clark carried on.
He flayed 20 boundaries around Glover Reserve and with a straight drive down the ground – ending a very nervous stint in the 90s – Clark reached his first ton.
“Yeah, I was obviously pretty happy with it being my first ton,” Clark said. “It was a quick outfield and probably got a bit lucky here and there and was very happy with it.
“There were a lot of balls that I hit in the air, a metre here, metre that way of the fielders, so I was lucky that way.
Relieved – I was in the 90s for a long time and the opposition knew it as well so they were talking about it.
I was pretty nervous and to just get that shot I was very relieved.
His century only came undone at the death – falling captive to Jamie Glen (1/20), but by then his work was done in a resounding fight-back.
From 2/14 when he arrived to 8/212 once he departed, it was an exceptional day for Clark and he hopes the side’s bowling attack can also ride the luck.
“Just the position we were in and just needed some runs on the board,” Clark said. “Especially coming into the end of the season and to get some runs and help the team out was great.
Got to win it next week, hopefully we can defend that and give ourselves every chance – you’ve got to get a bit lucky with those other results as well but we’ll give it a crack.”
