WEPL Marc’s brilliant 179 leads Thornbury to emphatic victory
SKIPPER Marc Lezar made an unbeaten 179 off only 109 balls as promoted Thornbury made the best possible start to life back in WEPL Premier One, coasting past Lansdown by 175 runs.
The South Gloucestershire side made a solid start through openers Dan Lezar (42) and Ed Webb (26) after winning the toss.
Chris Matthews continued the good work with 84 off 81 in a stand of 141 for the third wicket with Marc Lezar, who then cut loose in spectacular fashion, cracking eight fours and a remarkable 17 sixes.
He put on 127 for the fourth wicket in 13 overs with Josh Slade, who contributed just 20 as the ball disappeared to all parts of the historic Ship Ground.
Thornbury finished on an imposing 386-4 off their 50 overs ahead of Lansdown wilting from 80-1 to 211 all out. Danny Slade (4-35 from seven) ran through the middle order.
It was a good day, too, for Bedminster who were five-wicket winners at Chippenham.
The Wiltshire outfit battled to total 192 after winning the toss, with Gloucestershire’s Luke Charlesworth top-scoring on 46 as Adam Hares (3-47), Rich Sillars (3-55) and Muhammad Nasir (2-40) shared the wickets. Max Tryfonos also captured 1-15 from ten tight overs.
Tryfonos (46) and Joe Millard (43) gave the Bedminster reply good momentum with an opening partnership of 91 ahead of Cameron Melly (66 not out) guiding his side to the spoils with almost 12 overs to spare.
Champions Clevedon went down by 188 runs away to Bath, whose eye-watering total of 447-4 featured a superb 174 off just 110 balls from Brad Porteous (22 fours, eight sixes).
Fellow opener Ben Wells (75) and Ashur Morrison (71) also found fine early-season form before Clevedon came up well short, despite 62 from Josh Breed and Iraq Thomas’ 51 off 37. Skipper Tim Rouse and Harry Hankins bagged three wickets apiece.
In the two remaining games,
Bridgwater trumped promoted Taunton St Andrews by 133 runs, and Potterne were seven-wicket home victors against Taunton Deane.
» Twyford House kicked off their 75th anniversary celebrations with a six-wicket win away to Old Bristolians Westbury in the Bristol & North Somerset division.
Opener Charlie Hiram (68) dominated the home side’s below-par challenge of 175 after winning the toss. Ollie Hawkins captured 3-22 ahead of former skipper Mark Fowler (67 not out) leading the Twyford response.
Brislington saw off promoted Bedminster 2nds by 56 runs. Milo Ayres (92 off 77) and opener Will Thomas (69) starred in a total of 313-9 as James Carter claimed 5-54.
Three wickets apiece for Josh Whitemore and Harry King then helped Bris to the points, despite Rob Cunliffe’s unbeaten 75 and 52 from Mark Coombes.
Newly-promoted Bradley Stoke went down by three wickets at home to Congresbury, who rallied from 98-5 to take the honours thanks to Joe Thompson’s patient unbeaten 55 off 100 balls. Earlier, Tom Laver top-scored on 85 in Bradley Stoke’s 202 all out after winning the toss.
Knowle crushed Bristol 2nds by 170 runs and Keynsham held off Bath 2nds by 26 runs, captain Tom Bancroft’s 84 plus three wickets each for Jack Stiff and Jonty Flynn turning the tide.