mmg.com.au

Ten runs is all Echuca C grade opener Max Beard needs to bring up 1000 runs for his Goulburn Murray Cricket season.

The veteran has technically passed the milestone if his 19 Twenty20 runs are included, but just a flutter of runs will all but seal the achievement.

His highest score of 136 against Echuca South was one of four centuries for the season, with every one of his runs going towards his season average of 66.

Beard was happy with his season, but was more focused on winning tomorrow’s C grade grand final against Bamawm-Lockington United.

‘‘I’ve never made over 500 runs in a season before, so run-wise it’s been a heck of a lot better than other years,’’ he said.

‘‘Rod Perry, the captain, gave me the opportunity to open at the start of the season and I’ve quite enjoyed it.

‘‘I haven’t opened since I was a kid. It’s been fun.’’

Beard said his 81 against BLU in round 10 was the knock which stood out for him.

‘‘I didn’t end up making a century, but I batted out the innings,’’ he said.

‘‘BLU’s a pretty tough team to beat.’’

It is Beard’s third season playing with Echuca, joining the club when he moved from Meeniyan in South Gippsland.

He had not played cricket for 10 years when he joined, but decided it would be a good way to meet people in town, many of whom he spoke highly of.

The prospect of winning a premiership with his new friends was firmly on Beard’s mind.

‘‘Hopefully this week I can get the team off to a good start,’’ he said.

‘‘But I’d rather make a duck and win the granny than make a stack of runs and lose.’’