SOUTH Perth batsmen Robert Jones and Darius D’Silva last weekend broke a third-wicket partnership record which had stood for 67 years during their side’s crushing 90-run win over Scarborough.
Jones and D’Silva’s mammoth 245-run stand eclipsed the previous record of 210, was set by Ian Dick and Kevin O’Dea in 1949-50.
Although the record-breakers finished strongly, the start was not an indication of what was to come.
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READ NOW“Both of us struggled a bit at the start of the innings,” D’Silva said.
“At the drinks break the coach came over and told us to just relax a bit, let the ball come to us and hopefully things will happen.”
Jones, however, felt there was a big score for the taking and could not have been happier with his 158 not out.
“I actually felt pretty good before the game,” he said.
“It’s my best performance for South Perth and definitely one of the best performances I’ve ever had.”
Despite the enormity of the partnership, neither batsman was aware they had broken a record.
“I wasn’t actually aware at the time about breaking any sort of record but the lads told me at training on Tuesday,” Jones said.
“It was such a special feeling once I found out; to have our names in the record books at such a great club like South Perth is something I’ll treasure forever – or until the record is broken again.”
D’Silva shared his partner’s sentiment, after scoring his maiden first-grade century during the record-breaking stand.
“It felt pretty surreal,” D’Silva said.
“I never expected to break any big records like that, but to do it while scoring my first century was pretty special.
“I didn’t really know how to celebrate, to be honest; I got a few starts early in the season but to push through and crack the hundred felt great.”
South Perth is fifth on the ladder after four rounds and has built a solid platform from which to launch into the rest of the season.
“I think we’re going well,” Jones said.
“We’re a young team and we’re enthusiastic. We just want to learn as much as we can and push deep into finals.”
South Perth starts day one of its two-day match against Melville at 11:40am tomorrow before playing Country XI in a T20 match on Sunday at 2pm.
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