To score a century is every cricketers dream. To raise the bat, acknowledging the applause and cheers of fellow team mates and the opposition is an achievement inself. It takes concentration, skill and a bit of luck to accomplish this feat. To score a double century is remarkable. The fact that the skill of Batting is 10% ability and 90% mental surely shows that there is truth in the saying mind over matter.
Sukhpal Singh, is living that dream, when he achieved this last Saturday, scoring 200 while playing for Co. Clare against Midleton in a Division 1 match. His 21x4's and 13x6's was achieved in 35 overs and helped his team to amass 384 runs in 50 overs. The right handed batsmen made short work of the seamers and hit the ball to all parts of the ground. His aggression and acceleration ,after his second over, took the opposition by surprise who were on top before he came to the crease having had Co. Clare 25-3. Their joy turned to horror for many of the bowlers, some still don't know what their figures were. He was finally caught on 200 off the bowling of O'Reilly.
This wasn't no freak batting show as he had demolished the Cork Harlequins bowling attack scoring 158 in June.
Sukhpal has now has scored 381 runs in Division 1, after 3 games and has given the Bannermen a great start to the season. He coupled with F Bhagat has ensured that Co Clare will be in the mix come September.
He now joins a rare breed who have scored a Double Century not only in Munster but In Ireland.
Through his research, Ger Siggins has traced only four bigger scores ever in Munster, through 200 years.
300+ ‘Visiting Sailor’ v Midleton, 19th Century
219 Matthew Croose Parry (Cork Co) v Dublin Univ, Mardyke, 1926
201 John Dunn (Cork County) v Leinster, 1884
200* Ted Williamson (Cork Harlequins) v Limerick Raiders 2012 (499-4)
200 Sukhpal Singh (Co Clare) v Midleton 2014 (384-9)
199 John Dunn (King’s Reg’t) v Queen’s College Cork, 1883
Such feats need to be recognised by the cricketing public, so that we all can dream of raising the bat one day.
