HUGH Le Lievre yesterday etched his name into the CYMS record books with his 119 helping the green and golds break a premiership drought spanning three decades.
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The former skipper hit 15 fours and a six in his match-winning knock, entering the crease with the score at 2-8 before taking nearly 30 minutes to get off the mark, a run rate in stark contrast to the smacking of 14 runs off a TJ Cunynghame over late on Sunday to reach the magnificent milestone.
After a summer Le Lievre says was less than inspiring personally, he was rapt to be able to contribute when it mattered most.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said.
“As I said before, a lot of people have worked very hard for the club over a number of years and have come up short a number of times. To get over the line today, score a hundred in a final is obviously a very special feeling.
“Full credit to Cavaliers, I thought they really gave it to us and I think we only passed the total eight down ... Stu’s obviously had a wonderful career and he made us earn it, as we knew they would.”
Le Lievre’s performance wasn’t the only special one for CYMS though.
Englishman Curtis Free (5-43) snared a five-wicket haul on day one to help CYMS bowl the defending premiers out for 130.
“I thought we won the game on the first day with the way we bowled and fielded,” Le Lievre continued.
“Curtis was obviously outstanding with his five-for and we held most of our catches. We were confident we would be able to chase 130.
“The strongest aspect of our team this year has been the team effort we’ve been able to put in.
“Everyone has contributed at different stages, and I guess I haven’t done as well throughout the year, so to contribute on the big day is a very good feeling.”
He said there were no yips late in his innings batting with tail-enders Free and Al Dhatt.
Free added just five in a partnership of 41 for the ninth-wicket with Le Lievre, while Dhatt blazed 10 as the CYMS pair added 46 at the death to allow the likeable all-rounder to reach his ton.
“Honestly, no. I felt pretty relaxed,” he said.
“I think the pressure was off and we’d already won. To get over the line with Al, he’s been working hard in the nets the last few weeks ... I think he was more excited than me out there in the middle. It was lovely to be able to share that with him.”
