Gill’s field of dreams

TON OF RUNS . . . Chris Gill plays the ball to the offside during his record-breaking innings against Hollinwood.

CRICKET:

“IT was a proud moment” is how Chris Gill describes his record-breaking knock for Greenfield in the Versasteel Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

A product of the Ladhill Lane junior programme, he smashed a superb 182 against Hollinwood, which bettered the club’s previous best of 172 scored by West Indian professional Lawrence O’Brien in 1999.

More importantly, the big ton set up victory and signalled a welcome return to form for Gill.

“It’s been terrible — I couldn’t even buy a run before Saturday,” said the 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman. I managed to get an early boundary which gave me confidence and I played on from there. It’s amazing how form comes back all of a sudden.”

Gill hit 13 fours and 13 sixes in his 133-ball stay at the crease. It was his highest individual innings, bettering the 157 he scored for Broad Oak against Slaithwaite in the Drakes Huddersfield League last season.

The Gill family have a long association with Greenfield; Chris’s dad Peter was also in the side on Saturday.

“It was a proud moment when I discovered I had broken the record,” said Chris. “Even my dad was impressed.”



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