Like father, like sons: Crusaders cricketing trio shine

CRUSADERS Cricket Club members, Duncan Miller and his two sons, Luke and Dean created club history by achieving a unique feat of making half centuries in each of their games on the same day.

Duncan, who played for the Crusaders third team made 72 (not out) against Harlequins. His older son, Luke who plays for the U13 team scored 96 against Verulam Cricket Club in a T20 game and Dean, who plays for the U11 team scored 57* against Chatsworth United. The incredible feat was a first for the club.

The day the Miller family will never forget started with Luke’s impressive 96 off 32 balls.

“I was really looking forward to having a good whack on the day. I hadn’t played a T20 game in a while and I was really excited to have a bat. We won the game which was a huge bonus and this was my highest score in cricket which I’m really chuffed with. My dad, who was umpiring the game, told me about my younger brother, Dean after my innings,” Luke said.

Dean, who was playing at the Siripat Road Grounds in Reservoir Hills didn’t know he’d reached his half century until he was off the field.

“They told me I had scored a fifty after I batted. It was also my highest score and my mom called my dad to let him know the good news. I ended up being named man-of-the-match because I took two wickets and two catches in the game we won,” he said.

Dad, Duncan, who has played for the ‘Good Guys’ as the Crusaders cricket team are known, for more than 20 years said his teammates gave him a good ribbing once news reached them of his son’s milestones.

“So I batted on the same field Luke had and thanks to him I knew exactly the way to approach my innings. My teammates were giving me good natured jibes when I took the field saying I couldn’t match my sons’ feat. Thankfully I was able to score 72* and the team also ended up winning the game. I know of a few father and sons combinations who play for the club but we’ve been looking through the records and we can’t find one where father and two sons all score 50s on the same day. I’m incredibly proud of Luke and Dean and this is a feat we will never forget,” he said.

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