RECORD: 310*runs in 1936-37 by Richard Taylor (173*) / Hugh Chilvers (154*) for Northern District 6-402 declared against Marrickville 250 & 3-82 at Waitara Oval (now Mark Taylor Oval) in round 5, 31 Oct.-7 Nov. 1936.
On a sunny October afternoon at Waitara in 1936, Marrickville’s fast bowlers, NSW Sheffield Shield player Les O’Brien and Goulburn representative Harold McQuirk, made early inroads into the Northern District batting line-up to have them struggling at 6-92. That brought NSW leg-spinner Hughie Chilvers to the crease to join no 4 bat, Richard “Dick” Taylor. Over the following 140 minutes, the pair flayed the powerful attack to all parts of the oval as they rattled up an unconquered 310. The innings was declared at the stumps score of 6-402 with Taylor 173* and Chilvers 154*. They hit 45 fours between them–Taylor 23 and Chilvers 22. It was by far the highest 7th wicket partnership in Sydney 1st Grade, smashing the previous mark of 218* established 16 years earlier. On the second day’s play, Marrickville could only manage 250 and 3-82 with Chilvers taking 4-101 and NSW off-spinner Tim Caldwell, who later became Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board, finishing with 5-80.
The Taylor-Chilvers record has stood the test of time and has never been bettered. In the 89 years to 2023 since it was created, it is the only 7th wicket partnership to have passed the 300 runs milestone. It is also the highest partnership by a Northern District team in any grade.
