314 from 141 balls with 35 sixes and 10 lost balls: Sydney grade cricketer causes one-day carnage

3 days ago 5

A former Australian under-19s representative has set Sydney Premier Cricket alight with a stunning triple century in a one-day match that featured more than 200 runs in sixes.

Harjas Singh’s innings for Western Suburbs against Sydney on Saturday was the stuff of dreams as the 20-year-old bludgeoned a scarcely believable 314 from 141 balls at Pratten Park in Ashfield.

Harjas Singh scored 314 from 141 balls for Western Suburbs on Saturday.

Coming in at No.3 in the 11th over of the innings, Harjas didn’t score a run from his first four deliveries then plundered an incredible 35 sixes and 14 fours on his way to a club record score – eclipsing Bob Simpson’s 229 in a two-dayer – and the third-highest individual score in Sydney first grade cricket history.

He was 21 runs shy of Victor Trumper’s 335 from 205 balls, which was made in three hours for Paddington against Redfern in 1903.

Ben Rohrer previously held the record for the highest score in a first grade one-day match with 205 not out in 2016.

Wests president Michael Swan said onlookers were stunned after watching the carnage unfold, which saw Harjas hit five sixes in an over and lose 10 balls during his onslaught.

“It’s pretty insane,” Swan said. “Guys who have watched a lot of sport are just saying they’ve never seen something like it. It was just phenomenal and quite the innings.

“He’s an absolute ripper guy and he’s devoted to his craft.

“He played two reverse sweeps when he got to 100 and the coach said, ‘can you not do that and just hit it straight and hard?’ Harjas just said, ‘OK’. 200 runs later, he’s on 300.

“You’ve had Michael Clarke and Phil Hughes and Simo [Bob Simpson] and these sort of guys all play for the same club. He’s gone past some pretty impressive people.”

Wests finished their innings on 5-483, with Josh Clarke, another seasoned first-grader pushing for higher honours, next best on 37.

Harjas played for Australia at the 2024 under-19 World Cup and batted at No.4 behind incumbent Test opener Sam Konstas. Harjas top-scored with 55 from 64 balls in Australia’s victory over India in the final.

“Last year was his first year out of the [underage] systems,” Swan said. “We were mindful of that and tried to provide a support around him. It was definitely a stranger year without those pathways.

“No one’s ever doubted the ability that he’s that he’s got. People are so happy for him because he is such a genuinely good guy. We hope there’s a lot more to come like this.”