0 
0 Manly Waratahs batter Oliver Davies has added to his burgeoning reputation by bludgeoning the West Indies all over Phillip Oval in Canberra on Saturday.
Coming in at No.3 for a combined NSW/ACT XI on day two of the Tour match, 22-year-old Davies smashed 115 runs off 106 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes.
The North Curl Curl local told the Beaches Champion it was a very satisfying innings – particularly against a Test-strength bowling attack.
“I’ve faced Mitchell Starc in the nets and Lance Morris [known as ‘Wild Thing’] from Western Australia who gets it through low 150s, so I suppose I wasn’t un-used to quick bowling.
“The wicket was probably a bit flat – the short balls were getting through at 140 and not 150 [kilometres per hour].
“But you still had to score the runs.
“They were hitting the wicket hard and it probably gave you a few more opportunities to score,” Davies said.
Davies said it was “exciting and a bit surreal” to be walking out to bat against the famous West Indies.
“I’d played against one of their opening bowlers in the 2020 U/19 World Cup, Jayden Seales. I had a little chat with him going out, which was cool.
“But yeah, facing up to Kemar Roach who bowls 150, I was pretty nervous.
“But I didn’t have expectations going in – just went out and played my shots and it went okay,” Davies said.
Going forward Davies hopes to play every one of Sydney Thunder’s Big Bash League games before, he hopes, debuting for New South Wales in Sheffield Shield cricket, as fellow Manly players Chris Green, Jay Lenton and brothers Mickey and Jack Edwards have in recent years.
Hear Davies talk about his knock here: https://fb.watch/gYU7WyDiN5/
To enquire about sponsoring the Champion’s coverage of the Summer of Cricket, click here or on the pic.
