There’s no denying how valuable Leigh Edwards is to Seabrook Cricket Club but it didn’t stop Saints president Frank Henry from having a lighthearted chat with his star player about something missing from his resume.
Entering his fourth season with the Saints, Edwards had piled on a truck-load of runs for the Turf cricket west B1 club, but had never reached the magical triple figures.
In fact, Edwards had made so many 30s, 40s and 50s since his arrival in 2012-13 that even he felt he was long overdue for a big one.
The chat with the president must have worked wonders for Edwards because he produced an innings on Saturday that will be talked about for some time.
With his side in desperate trouble on 8-88, Edwards made 131 not out in Seabrook’s total of 177 against local rivals Point Cook on the road at Saltwater Reserve.
“I had to do it, I had to stand up and it’s about time I did,” he told Star Weekly.
“It’s been a long time coming for me at Seabrook, so it was good to get the runs on the board. I always seem to be getting myself out in the 40s and 50s, which was frustrating.
“The president gave the hard word last week saying ‘when am I going to go on with one for the club?’, so it was good to knock one out this week.”
Edwards could not go it alone and after the top and middle order had crumbled so meekly, the former Essendon and Melton player needed assistance from an unlikely source.
Big hitting No. 10 Mitchell Haberecht tempered his natural aggression to help guide Edwards to his ton.
He scored only 14 but figured in a game-changing 86-run partnership.
“I reckon they were the most valuable 14 the club has had from him,” Edwards said. “He managed to get me over the line to my hundred and the team into a fantastic position.
“He’s usually an aggressive batsman and to just dot up every ball to do the job for the team was unbelievable.
“It showed the blokes that anything is possible; you can turn a bad position into a good position. Everyone is valuable whether you’re number one or 11.”
Point Cook faced two overs before stumps to be 0-1, with captain Travis Bean and Owen Doolan at the crease, and the game is evenly poised heading into day two.
“Our bowlers have to be on from ball one to get this victory,” Edwards said. “The outfield is quick, you get value for shots along that ground and if we’re off our line, they’ll punish it.”
