RECORD: 326* runs in 1986-87 by Mark O’Neill (200*) / Phil Emery (127*) for Gordon 2-353 declared against Fairfield-Liverpool 110 & 1-125 at Chatswood Oval in round 10 on 17-24 January 1987.
Gordon’s NSW Sheffield Shield star Mark O’Neill and batter/wicket-keeper Phil Emery came together with the score 2-27, after Fairfield-Liverpool new ball bowler, Greg Clarke, had disposed of both openers. But that was the last of the good news for the new competition entrants, as the experienced pair broke a club and Premier Cricket record as they piled on a massive undefeated 326 in 273 minutes. The hard-hitting O’Neill, son of the legendary Australian batting star Norman O’Neill, smashed 27 boundaries and two sixes in his neat 200* while Emery hit 16 fours and a six in his unconquered 127*.
Declaring at 2-353, Gordon dismissed the Lions for a paltry 110 to win by a massive 243 runs.
Emery joined O’Neill in the NSW team in 1987-88, going on to become one of the State’s most dependable batter- ‘keepers. He also played a Test match for Australia in Pakistan in 1994-95. In first-class cricket, he completed 384 dismissals while scoring 3,292 runs. O’Neill’s career in first-class cricket continued until 1990-91 when he retired as the scorer of 3,729 runs including nine centuries.
