CRICKET: Smith hits his first league ton

The 47-year-old, who made his league cricket debut aged 17, has scored around 20 centuries in friendly matches but the closest he had previously got in a league game was 99 a couple of years ago, and he has also finished 98 not out in a 2nd XI game.

But on Saturday, in the West Sussex Invitation League Division 1 match, which ended in a draw, Smith finally reached three figures. He said: "It was a bit emotional. Going back over the last few years, I've got a few 90s but I've got there at last now.

"Andy Reeves and I have been talking about when we are going to retire. I want to go on until I'm 50 and I wondered if I'd ever get a league hundred.

"At the end of the 47th over, Simon Locke, who I was batting with, told me I was on 90 so I got a couple of twos and, in true tradtion, hit the next ball over the trees for six."

Smith crashed 16 fours and the one six from his 129-ball innings and put on a 50-run second-wicket stand with Jack Sunderland, who scored 42, and a 156-run unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with Simon Locke, who finished unbeaten on 82.

Locke hit 12 fours and three sixes from his 85-ball innings, and Smith said: "I really enjoy batting with Simon. He likes to play his shots, and that took the pressure off me."

EP captain Andy Reeves said: "Some of the guys got quite emotional when Colin got his hundred, and we were all very pleased he got it. He played really well and put on a good partnership with Simon.

"Declaring was never in my plans as we scored 260 against Crawley Eagles recently and lost, and Ram are a good batting side as well."

EP finished their 49 overs on 266-4 and then reduced Ram to 35-5 before they finished on 167-8.

Mark Coskin had taken the first three wickets to fall to leave Ram 15-3, but a 96-run sixth-wicket stand between Danny, who scored 57, and Prakash, who struck 58 not out, boosted Ram before they batted out the final four overs, eight wickets down, to hang on for the draw.

The draw lifted EP a place to fifth, and Reeves said: "Apart from Broadwater, who are running away with it, just 25 points separates five teams. Second place is up for grabs and we've got as good a chance as anyone to get it."

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]