When Glamorgan played Leicestershire at Colwyn Bay in 2009, we finished day 2 on 320-8, 7 runs ahead of the visitors, with only 2 wickets in hand. I was one of the not out batsmen, with an undefeated 10 or 11 to my name, and was hoping to drag our innings out for another half our or so the next morning - if only to avoid fielding again, after my first innings bowling was about as threatening as the Andrex puppy.
After Matt Maynard had told me that if I helped the total to reach 350, I had a "licence" (code for being allowed to try and hit every ball into the next time zone without fear of reprisal), I was doubly determined. Along with the legend that is Robert Croft, we somehow managed to take the score to 489-8, a partnership of 193, and I was on 96 not out. After hitting the next 30 balls directly to every fielder on the pitch at 100mph, I was beginning to think that a century was beyond me. Happily an absolute jaffa of a half volley was hit back past the bowler for 4, and I had scored the first century by a Glamorgan number 10 for 80 years.
After acknowledging the crowd, and embracing Crofty, who was approaching his own hundred, I said to him "Your turn mate - I'll stay here and make sure you get yours too". Literally less than 60 seconds later, my middle stump was cartwheeling over the boundary, after a shot that Happy Gilmore would have been ashamed of. Happily Crofty got his ton, we completed an innings victory, and although I have since retired, I am now proudly (and misguidedly) claiming to be a genuine all rounder.
Adam Shantry
Follow Adam on Twitter @Shants1
Memory added on March 15, 2013
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