Skipper slams unbeaten ton as Lansdown 1st XI blitz Clevedon

Skipper Jordan Smith hit an unbeaten ton as Lansdown 1st XI maintained their West of England Premier Cricket League Premier Two Bristol/Somerset title push by destroying hosts Clevedon.

Lansdown 1st XI skipper Jordan Smith hit an unbeaten 113 against Clevedon on Saturday 2nd August

With the captain carrying his bat for 113 not out, the second-placed Down raced to a nine-wicket success on the North Somerset coast on Saturday 2nd August.

Clevedon opted to bat and mustered 210 all out in 48.2 overs.

Despite losing opener James Caddick early on, they looked set for a big total with Iraq Thomas and Zubir Khan batting well. The duo had put on 80 for the second wicket when Thomas was caught by Sam Pearce off Dan Lezar for 32.

Nick Carpenter departed cheaply but Khan and Will Carpenter (18) added 65 for the fourth wicket. However, Clevedon tumbled from 155-3 to 159-6, Khan the fifth batter out. He was trapped in front by Pearce for 94 off 109 balls, his innings including a six and 12 fours.

Jacob Ward, in at number six, made 19, but extras (13) was the next-highest scorer.

Pearce was the pick of the attack, collecting 3-29 from 10 overs. Lezar returned 2-45 off 10 overs and Sam Bowery had 2-27 in five overs.

In reply, Jordan Smith and Josh Smith gave the Clevedon bowlers a torrid time. The openers crafted a first-wicket stand worth 155, the partnership ending when Josh Smith was leg before to Ward for 64 – with a six and half-a-dozen fours – from 102 deliveries.

Jordan Smith and Praneel Choughule (17 not out) completed the job, Lansdown reaching 215-1 in 42.5 overs. The skipper cracked two sixes and 14 boundaries in his 131-ball innings.

Jack Askew was the most economic bowler for Clevedon, who gifted their visitors 21 extras. Askew finished with 0-23 from six overs.

The Down will return to Combe Park on Saturday 9th August, for a league match against Weston-super-Mare.