South African batsman smashes 490 in 50-over club match

What's the story?

During a 50-over match in a club-based cricket tournament in South Africa, Shane Dadswell managed to do the unthinkable. Playing for North-West University (NWU) Pukke, the right-hander smashed an astounding 490 from just 151 deliveries against Potch Dorp Cricket Club at the Witrand Cricket Field in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

Celebrating his 20th birthday with a special knock, Dadswell fell just ten runs short of the 500-run mark when he was caught off the bowling of Cobus Crowther. In all, Dadswell's quadruple century featured as many as 27 fours and a whopping 57 sixes.

In case you didn't know...

Despite Dadswell's scintillating performance, his knock cannot be included in the official record books encompassing the game's illustrious history. It is due to the fact that the match under discussion has not been awarded 'List A' status. Usually, such a status is given by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to premier domestic competitions organised under the purview of its member boards.

The heart of the matter

Shane Dadswell's astonishing knock stands out like a beacon in the game's scorecard

Earlier this year, NWU-Pukke had clinched the title in Red Bull Campus Cricket. The varsity-based cricket club flexed their muscles in the 50-over format when they took on Potch Dorp CC during a fixture in a club tournament.

Dadswell's spectacular 490 took NWU-Pukke to an unprecedented total of 677/3 from their 50 overs. Ruan Haasbroek also chipped in with a belligerent 52-ball 104. The team's innings comprised of 48 fours and 63 sixes.

Facing the merciless wrath of the opposition batsmen, Potch Dorp's bowling attack was torn to shreds. While four bowlers conceded more than a hundred runs each, two more came perilously close to the mark.

In response to such a colossal target, Potch Dorp could only manage a relatively paltry total of 290/9. Eager to transfer his batting form into the bowling department, Dadswell (who is a wicket-keeper by trade) returned to haunt Potch Dorp by picking up two wickets. NWU-Pukke won the contest by an emphatic margin of 387 runs.

A 20 year old South African batsman Shane Dadswell made a record 490 in 151 balls, with 27 fours and 57 sixes! in a 50 over club game.His side finally made 677/3 in 50 overs! https://t.co/ki1CU08SNK

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 18, 2017

Parallels from history

Dadswell's remarkable innings carries eerie similarities with a couple of other mammoth knocks emanating from unheralded cricket matches. Earlier this year, Delhi's Mohit Ahlawat hammered a 72-ball 300 during a local tournament game.

During last year, a Mumbai teenager named Pranav Dhanawade amassed an unbelievable 1009 from only 323 balls in an inter-school tournament fixture.

Author's take

Considering the impact created by his performance, Dadswell's knock may come under intense scrutiny from various quarters. While the size of the ground as well as quality of bowling must be taken into consideration, the right-hander certainly deserves unequivocal praise for his explosive effort. Looking at the direction taken by the game in recent times, we could soon see the 500-run mark broken in the 50-over format.