“IT was something that Bradman would have liked.”
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That statement perfectly reflects how impressed St Pat’s Old Boys president Matt Fearnley was with the stunning 186 that Nic Broes scored in Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade on Saturday.
Having scored 1,000 runs across a range of competitions prior to Christmas, there was no doubt that Broes went into the two-day contest against City Colts with form on his side.
But his knock at Loco Oval, which included 25 fours and three sixes, was one of the most impressive seen in Bathurst first grade over the last decade.
It ranks as the best effort by a St Pat’s Old Boys batsman in the top grade.
“It was probably the perfect innings. Just the way he went about it, to be told that he’ll be captain of the side half an hour before the game – Ryano [Adam Ryan] was crook – that’s a big thing for a young person to take on,” Fearnley said.
“But to put that aside and make the decision to bat when there has been rain the night before … the way he played was just the way I guess he’s been taught to play, it was just faultless.
“The old saying, block the good balls, hit the bad balls and just stay focused – he kept control.
READ MORE: Broes scores a club record 186
“He’s very technical with his shots. Obviously he plays straight through covers, and he’s got the pull shot – he can pretty much put a shot to any ball you give to him.”
Given that Broes is one the junior talents to have stepped up in the first XI, Fearnley said his efforts on Saturday will act as inspiration to others hoping to follow in his footsteps.
“When St Pat’s Old Boys first merged, our emphasis was always going to be on our future with the juniors. If you look through our club, there are a lot of talented juniors,” the president said.
“So it was great for Nic personally, for his own confidence, to achieve, but it was also something which will inspire all the other juniors at the club.
“He will go on and achieve bigger results, but from a club perspective, he leaves that legacy now at the senior club he first started with.
“As a club we can provided the environment for these young kids to succeed, but it comes down to the individual at the end of the day. He’s really taken that on.
“He’s just so mentally tough Nic, he’s got all the skill and the talent, but he honestly works so hard.”
Broes’ knock on Saturday continued what has been a remarkable season with the bat.
It was his third century of season 2018-19, adding to unbeaten tons while representing Bathurst High School.
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Broes has also scored 12 half centuries – many of them undefeated.
Two have come in Bathurst first grade, while in Orange’s Twenty20 Royal Hotel Cup his efforts include a 55 not out off 53 balls and a 64 off 60.
In the Regional Bash tournament – also T20 format – Broes helped the Central West Wranglers to their maiden win over the Orana Outlaws with an unbeaten 85.
He hit two half centuries for the Bathurst under 18s representative side, a 59 not out for the Western Zone Colts while in Sydney grade cricket for Western Suburbs, Broes’ efforts include an unbeaten 60 and a 90.