Western Suburbs - Taylor and Hughes record breaking 291 run partnership
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney | May 01, 2024
Cricket is acknowledged as the game that continues to produce statistics in greater numbers and variations than virtually any other sport. Yet, the excitement and enthusiasm for those ‘moments in history’ continues unabated.
It was more than one of those ‘moments’ on Saturday 2 November 2019 at Pratten Park, Ashfield as Western Suburbs second grade went out to bat against Sydney. Spectators were to watch ninety overs of near chanceless batting as opener Isaac Taylor and first drop batsman, Jason Hughes, put on 291 runs for the second wicket.
The partnership is the highest second-wicket effort in any grade in the history of Wests. Very impressive, considering the Club started way back in 1895.
The ‘291’ removed one of Bob Simpson’s entries in the Magpies’ record books. Simmo and Grahame Windley posted an unbeaten 226 partnership, in first grade against Waverley, for the second wicket in 1967-68.
Coincidentally, 226 was also the second grade, second-wicket record partnership, posted by Russell Gascoigne and Nicholas Ashley, against Bankstown in 2004-2005.
The 291 partnership by Taylor and Hughes now ranks as the third-highest in Western Suburbs history. Only two opening efforts rate higher: 312 by John DiBartolo and Tahmid Islam, in second grade versus Sutherland, in 2011-2012. 309, unbeaten, by club legends James ‘Sunny Jim’ Mackay and Austin Diamond, in first grade versus Middle Harbour back in 1905-1906. Wests adopted the diamond logo as a tribute to Austin’s career contributions to the Club.
Isaac Taylor, captaining Wests for only the second time, won the toss and batted. Unfortunately, young newcomer, Darryl Hands, missed out, scoring only three.
However, Isaac posted his grade career-best with 138 (off 232 balls). Taylor is a local junior, from the St. Patrick’s, Strathfield ranks. Isaac progressed quickly into grade, where he debuted in firsts on October 26th, 2013, ironically against Sydney.
Jason Hughes also scored his career-best,160 (off 264 balls). Jason, originally from Macksville, arrived at Wests in 2007, quickly graduating to first grade, debuting on November 1st, 2008 versus Blacktown. Jason impressed Mosman in a match in 2011-2012, under the captaincy of his brother Phillip, when he batted well and took five wickets. Phil managed 140 in that game.
Jason played five seasons at Mosman, one at Randwick-Petersham (2017-2018), before ‘returning home’ to Wests..
Long may the ‘stats.’ continue to intrigue us, with Western Suburbs Players breaking records regularly, as this proud club continues to reclaim its traditional place in Sydney Premier Cricket.
