LONG-serving Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club player Paul Aikman made team history late last month during a match against Lucas.<\/p>\n
Though the game proved a momentous win for the team, Aikman celebrated a more personal victory, overtaking member David Wallis\u2019 club games record with his 362nd match.<\/p>\n
He said the achievement is something he\u2019s sure to appreciate more once he puts down the bat for good.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I haven\u2019t really thought about but it\u2019s something I\u2019m pretty proud to achieve and something I\u2019ll reflect on probably more after I\u2019ve finished playing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club\u2019s steeped in history. It\u2019s well over 50 years old so this is something I\u2019ll definitely grow to cherish. I\u2019d say David held the record for 15, 20 years, and he\u2019s a legend of the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe game experience itself was really good because both our openers made hundreds. We were none for 215 off 45 overs in that one day against Lucas.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of the boys who\u2019ve usually been in A Grade for the first 11 came back and played and made a point to the selectors and made a hundred each. We didn\u2019t lose a wicket.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a couple myself. We ended up bowling them out for 89.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aikman grew up playing cricket with his family and friends and following a period of junior tennis, picked up the sport again from 15 years old in Geelong.<\/p>\n
After moving to Ballarat in his early 20s, Aikman briefly took up tennis once again before joining the Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club in 1994, where he\u2019s been ever since.<\/p>\n
Having earned his lifetime membership seven years ago, and with his own kids having come through the club, Aikman said it\u2019s his family connection and relationships that have kept him playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI rose up the ranks into A Grade cricket and when I dropped off, my boys were coming through,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe youngest is now with Geelong in the premier league, the oldest is an opening bowl with the A Grade team and about to bowl out here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s kept me involved, but also all the young guys here, they keep you young at heart. I just enjoy it and I enjoy their company.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo make it to 400 games would be alright but we\u2019ll see how the body holds up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONG-serving Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club player Paul Aikman made team history late last month during a match against Lucas. Though the game proved a momentous win for the team, Aikman celebrated a more personal victory, overtaking member David Wallis\u2019 club games record with his 362nd match. He said the achievement is something he\u2019s sure to appreciate […]<\/p>\n