Record knock ‘best day’ of club cricketer’s life
AFTER a record blast, South African club cricketer Shane Dadswell is still coming to terms with the events of the past few days.
The previously unheard of opening NWU Pukke batsman rewrote the record books by posting the highest individual score in minor, limited overs cricket.
The Johannesburg-born youngster scored a blistering 490 runs from 151 balls, smashing 57 sixes and 27 fours, playing for NWU Pukke Cricket Club against Potch Dorp 1 Cricket club at the Witrand Oval Cricket field in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
With his knock, Dadswell bettered the previous highest score of 486 runs, by Indian teenager S Sankruth Sriram (for JSS International School U16 v Hebron School U16 in 2014-15).
“Honestly, it’s not even something you dream about,” Dadswell said.
“You dream about a double hundred, so to get 400 odd is a really special moment on a special day for me.
“It’s phenomenal, the best day of my life,” he said.
A former King Edward VII School (KES) pupil, the young man also celebrated his 20th birthday on the same day – November 18.
The previous weekend, Dadswell – who describes himself as a bit of an attacking batsman – also turned in a remarkable performance, although it went unnoticed.
“It’s been an amazing two weeks, because last week I hit 126 off 38 balls. So there is certainly an attacking nature inside me,” he said. Dadswell is not new to cricket.
The second-year Business Psychology student played in all the Cricket SA age-group weeks, including the most known of them all – the Khaya Majola Week – representing Gauteng.
Whether Dadswell plays cricket professionally is yet to be seen, although measures had been in place well before the weekend.
“It would be amazing to play cricket for a living,” he said.
“I guess the first steps have been taken because it was in the pipeline for me to start training with the [North West] Dragons from this week.
“That is the direction I’m looking in for now. I have been part of a few things with them this season, I’ve played a warm-up game and so on.
“I did not think I would have had an opportunity until next year, but hopefully this innings will change that.”
Dadswell – whose idol is South African-born Englishman Kevin Pietersen – celebrated with his delighted teammates at the nearby Harry Oppenheimer Field on Sunday.
After all, his NWU Pukke Cricket Club also deserved credit.
Their 677/3 in 50 -ver minor cricket surpassed the previous highest total of 629/5 (University of Warwick 2nd XI v Newman College in 2007).
Ruan Haasbroek knocked 104 not out, with Potch Dorp bowler Dawid Crowther the most expensive – with 1/131 in 10 overs.
Potch Dorp did make a fist of the game by responding with 290 for nine, but they lost by 387 runs.
Dadswell capped a fine all-round contribution with the ball by finishing with 2/32 in seven overs.