Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club’s run machine Paul Newman produced one of the greatest and breathtaking knocks of the modern era in club cricket in the 2022-23 Goulburn Murray Cricket season.
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The man they call Paulo christened his new bat in style, plundering an unbeaten double century against Nondies Cohuna in their one-day clash at Kyabram’s Northern Oval.
Newman combined with fellow opener Brett Andison, who made 115, in a 229-run second-wicket partnership in a total of 4-402, one the highest scores ever in a one-day game in the John McMahon Shield competition.
Newman slammed a staggering 22 fours and 15 sixes in racing to an unbeaten 214 off 123 deliveries.
Many of his towering sixes landed in a channel adjoining the Northern Oval.
Andison hit 11 fours and three sixes and fell when the The Flames had 286 runs on the board.
After Andison’s dismissal Newman continued his onslaught on the visiting bowlers and with support from co-skipper Jake Gascoyne propelled The Flames’ score to a daunting 4-402 off their 45 overs.
Newman said his new bat ‘‘felt a bit heavy early’’ and he took some time to find his batting rhythm, but he had ‘‘got to see them a bit better as his innings progressed’’.
Newman is Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club’s greatest run-maker and is equally well known for his football coaching and playing record.
The now retired 40-year-old coached Kyabram to 62 successive wins — a Victorian record — from 2016 to 2018 in Goulburn Valley League.
What would have been a run of 84 successive wins was only deprived by Shepparton by two points in the 2018 grand final.
But Kyabram bounced back to win the 2019 flag in another undefeated season to provide Newman with three premierships in an initial four-year stint as coach.
Newman was also one of the greatest players to pull on a jumper in the GVL with his uncanny almost freakish marking a hallmark of his game.
He captained GVL representative teams and last year was inducted into the GVL’s Hall Of Fame.
Without question Paulo is Kyabram’s greatest sportsman in a town that boasts a remarkable record when it comes to producing elite sportspeople.
Paul Newman representing Hurley’s Hotel Hounds in the GVBBL.
Paul Newman during his time as Kyabram coach.
NEXT UP IN GUS UNDERWOOD’S FREAKISH SPORTING FEATS: Trevor Sutton (football)
When Trevor Sutton kicked an incredible 249 goals in the 1982 season for Deniliquin in Murray Football League he set a benchmark that may stand forever.
Sutton was a 186cm goal-kicking footballing nomad with a “have boots will travel” outlook taking him to football fields in every Australian state and territory.
Read Gus Underwood’s take on Sutton’s Freakish Sporting Feat in next Friday’s News.
