However, a massive 196-run partnership by the Mt Clear openers on Saturday has re-written the record books at the club, with the duo recording the highest ever opening stand for the Mounties.

Batting against East Ballarat in the BCA club firsts, the pair put on an enormous 196 runs before Goonan was run out for 102.

Nicholson then followed suit, also run out for 98, just two pain-staking runs short of his second firsts grade century.

The pair were not aware at the time, but they had in fact broken a long-standing record that had been in place for 15 years.

Nicholson in fact thought the pair had fallen short of the club record.

Cameron Haines and Matt Clark made 184 against Coronet-Invermay in 1996-97, and neither Goonan nor Nicholson knew they were the new holders of the record when they passed that total.

Even yesterday they were still unaware.

“I asked him what the record was when we were out there and he thought it was above 200,” Goonan said of Nicholson.

Nicholson, who was also playing his 150th senior match, now holds four record partnerships for Mt Clear.

In addition to his latest entry in the record books, he also holds the highest partnerships for the sixth, ninth and 10th wickets for Mt Clear in the firsts.

“It’s a shame we didn’t keep going and keep climbing the records,” he said.

Reflecting on falling just two runs short a century in his milestone, Nicholson remained philosophical.

“It would have been nice to make it there, but that’s cricket,” he said.