Devon Cricket Board - Overthrow achives ton-scoring ambition

Overthrow achives ton-scoring ambition

SIDMOUTH batsman Tom Overthrow achieved a ton-tastic personal milestone against Plymouth Civil Service last Saturday.

Overthrow opened the batting for Sidmouth 3rd XI and scored an unbeaten 122 as his team chased 237 to win and got them with six wickets in hand.

There were 22 fours in Overthrow's knock, which helped win the game with around six overs to spare.

What made the ton extra special for the 66-year-old retired paper technologist is that he has now scored at least one in each of the last five decades.

'I got my first ton playing for Marling Grammar School in 1965, then got another while at university in Manchester,' said Overthrow.

'Most of the rest I got playing for High Wycombe in what was then the Thames Valley League before moving to Devon 15 years ago.

'I had one in the 1990s and also in the following decade, it has been a while since I got the last one.

'Playing for Devon O60s against Wiltshire at Exmouth a year or so ago I was caught for 99, and I did wonder then if I would get that close again.

'When was dropped three times before reaching 30 against Civil, you wouldn't have thought so.

'But the track is like a road, the outfield like greased lightning and anything that beat the fielder was four every time.'

Having made a century in every one of the last five decades, Overthrow now has one more ambition left.

'It would be nice to make it seven decades, but there is quite a lot of this one left first,' said Overthrow.

'I will carry on playing as long as I am capable and can do something useful. You never know, stranger things have happened...'

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