adminequalled PINT batsman Simon Lavers’ Darwin districts record from nine years earlier.
An all-rounder, 23-year-old Mire played Under-19 and A-level cricket with Zimbabwe before moving Down Under in 2009.
A brief sojourn back to Zimbabwe was ruined by injury, leading to him applying for residency in Australia. Mire came to Darwin last year with good mate Simon Keane to ply his trade with Tracy Village, but moved to the Red Caps with countryman Friday Kasteni when Keane called an end to his own northern exposure.
Mire knew a big innings was “just around the corner” after an average start to the district cricket season.
“I’ve opened all season for Tahs and been getting my 20s, 30s and 40s and badly wanted to get to 50,” he said.
“The first six I hit on Saturday came out of the middle and was straight and I thought ‘that felt OK’.
“So I thought I would try it again and again and it started to happen. All I really wanted to do was bat time.
“My whole game plan began with batting for 20 overs and went to 30, then 40, and went right to the second-last ball.
“That helped my concentration and helped me pick the right ball to hit.”
Mire said the innings was in trouble at 101-4 when his opening partner (Kasteni) was out for two and in-form captain Steve Taylor went second ball for nothing.
“Then (Tom) Triffitt and Brett Gardiner fell for not many and we were in real strife,” he said.
“It was a wicket where you had to get yourself in early and that’s what I was concerned about. I didn’t know I was on 98 until one of the bowlers told me. Then I got the two I needed for my first ton.” Mire got several reminders from his teammates on his score and how far away Lavers’ record was.He was eventually run out on the second last ball when an attempted straight hit for six fell short.
“I tried to hit it over the fence but it fell short and bounced to a fieldsman,” Mire said.
“I thought there was two there but there wasn’t but it was good to equal the record.
“What was important was winning the game because Districts fought it right out to the end.” — NTNews
Online Reporter