World Record Opening Partnership?????
In early February 2009, the Victorian Over Sixties Cricket Association held its first 20/20 matches. In one, there was an opening partnership of 60 runs off 8 overs. Is this a record for over 60’s cricket?
The teams for the match were drawn from all clubs in the Association. The openers in question both went by the Christian name of Russell. So they rustled up the runs at a very goodly pace.
Forty of the runs were 1’s, 2’s and 3’s. There was also some heavy running while some shots dribbled to the boundary. So, it was quite a physical endurance feat for cricketers of such advanced age. The scoring rate might have been even faster. However the need to recover ones breath meant two or three consecutive defensive shots were played while the lungs filled again.
So how does this feat stand on a world wide basis ? It is up there with the best? If you have a record which is close to or better than this Twenty20 opening partnership send an email to info@crickettragic.com.au
Tags: 20/20 cricket, cricket tragic, over 60, world cricket records
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:10 am
The world record for opening partnerships is held by two Victorians, Henry Gunstone and Archie Bourke of Ararat, who in 1964 , played out the whole of three days to amass 734 runs unbeaten, in the Ararat and DCA grand final of that year.
As their team finished on top of the ladder, they could not lose the grand final unless they were defeated.
So they just batted and batted and batted…..
Henry, now 80+ was an automatic first pick for every Victorian Country team for a decade to play vs International visiting teams.
Archie has jusr retired as custodian of the Ararat Town Hall and adjoining squash courts.