The talented left-armer is usually in the headlines for his efforts with the ball, but he posted a maiden first-class century in a record-breaking partnership with Neil Broom during a Plunket Shield cricket match against Auckland at the University Oval yesterday.
The pair put on 239 runs to break the Otago record fourth-wicket partnership against all-comers.
However, more impressively, Beard was listed to bat at No 10, but came in late on day one at No 3 to protect the side's specialist batsmen.
He survived for 20 minutes and resumed yesterday on six having done the job required of him as a night watchman. Not in his wildest dreams could he have imagined what kind of a day he was about to have.
''I was pretty ecstatic when I got the 100,'' Beard said.
''I was a bit nervous in the 90s because I'm not used to it. But I just played the way I played my whole innings and just made sure I watched the ball. It was a big relief to get the 100.''
Looking every bit like a top-order batsman, the left-hander batted all day and by stumps was still undefeated and on 160.
It is an even more amazing feat when you consider it was his first bat for Otago this summer.
''I try to get in the nets as much as I can but if I want a really long bowl then batting takes the back seat. Bowling is No 1, but batting is important, especially in the four-day game.''
