![Matthew Gilkes departs on 99 [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1758340320490_Matthew_Gilkes_Marsh_One_Day_Cup.jpg?type=hq)
Matthew Gilkes departs on 99 [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]
New South Wales wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes suffered the cruellest of heartbreaks, falling just one run short of his maiden professional century in the Marsh One-Day Cup. Playing against defending champions South Australia, Gilkes was run out on 99 after a costly error in judgment.
The 26-year-old looked set for his first hundred in List A cricket, having already crossed his previous best score of 82. But with the nervous nineties weighing on his shoulders.
Matthew Gilkes Falls 1 Run Short Of Maiden Hundred
On 99, Matthew Gilkes attempted a risky single towards short cover. His former teammate Jason Sangha pounced quickly, and a sharp throw caught Gilkes short of the crease at the non-striker’s end.
Gilkes walked back on 99 of 107 balls, and commentators on air described the dismissal as a “mental lapse”.
Despite the heartbreak, Matthew Gilkes played a crucial role in NSW’s innings. He combined with opener Kurtis Patterson to put on a solid 140-run stand for the second wicket.
Patterson, who had scored a century earlier this week against Tasmania, was looking good for another big score before being controversially given out caught behind for 73.
After Gilkes’ dismissal, Chris Green provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 39 off 19 balls, smashing three sixes to push NSW’s total to 288/7 from their 50 overs. The Blues’ balanced innings has set South Australia a challenging target of 289 runs for victory.
For Matthew Gilkes, though, the day will always be remembered as the one that got away. He was the third-highest run-scorer in last summer’s One-Day Cup and has now passed fifty on 26 occasions across formats, including the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League. But the elusive maiden hundred continues to evade him.
