Savouring the moment: Nagambie B-grade batter Blair Taylor-Lloyd celebrates making a century against Shepparton United on Saturday. Photo: Nagambie Cricket Club
A day out.
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There is really no other way of describing Nagambie’s Blair Taylor-Lloyd feats in Saturday’s big B-grade clash against Shepparton United.
The aggressive opener turned VE Vibert Reserve into his kingdom for the day, striking an astonishing 142 to lead his team to a dominant 230-run win.
The score was the highest of any recorded across the Cricket Shepparton association so far this season.
An innings filled with magical moments, there were a plethora of moments Taylor-Lloyd could have singled out as the highlight.
But when reflecting on his accomplishment his mind is immediately cast back to the very first ball, as if it was not for a slice of luck the whole thing would not have happened.
“I started off pretty scratchy, I actually probably should have been out the first ball I faced to be honest,” Taylor-Lloyd said.
“I edged it through the slips and it went for four instead of going to hand, it might have been a sign of things to come, I don’t know.
“In the end it was just my day.”
Making the most of his early slice of luck, Taylor-Lloyd proceeded to get his Nagambie side off to the perfect start alongside fellow opener Darby O’Brien.
Making the most of the small boundaries and VE Vibert Reserve’s second oval, the pair put on over 150 for the first wicket in what was a very entertaining opening stand.
Eventually losing his comrade for 58, Taylor-Lloyd did not let up, as he took further control of the innings and continued to plunder balls to the boundary.
In action: Blair Taylor-Lloyd on his way to a memorable 142. Photo: Nagambie Cricket Club
“It was pretty hot out there so my main objective was just to try and increase our run rate and see how long I could last out there,” Taylor-Lloyd said of his mindset throughout the innings.
“I said to the boys at the first drinks break the pitch was pretty hard to get going on, but once the ball got a bit older and the bowlers tired it got a lot easier.
“In the end that was probably the longest I’ve ever batted ever, walking off I thought I’d only just scraped over 100, so to see that I had that many to my name it was a bit of a shock.”
Reflecting on the century, which was his first at B-grade level, Taylor-Lloyd said it was very special walking off the ground with a 142 next to his name.
“That was probably the best I’ve batted ever, it was just good to be out in the middle that long and feel them coming off the middle so often,” he said.
“Being my first ton in the B-grade, that feeling of raising the bat and taking the helmet off, I haven’t had too many better moments in cricket than that.”
Taylor-Lloyd’s perfect day did not end at the conclusion of his batting innings however.
With his team having a monstrous 274 to defend, skipper Will Ulrich gave his golden boy a rare opportunity with ball in hand.
And once again he delivered for his team, taking 2-4 from 3.4 overs to cap the perfect day.
“It was probably the first time I’d ever bowled properly, usually I hide away as a keeper behind the stumps,” Taylor-Lloyd said.
“So to get the chance to roll the arm over and take a couple of wickets, it was the perfect way to cap the day for me.
“Then as a team to go out and win by 230 runs, it was a fair old day on the cricket field.”
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