CAPTAIN John Evans continued his summer to remember with a magnificent unbeaten 114 as England Over 70s opened the three-match Silver Ashes series with a 54-run victory at Colchester and East Essex CC.
The Frocester chair and Gloucestershire stalwart, batting at three, led from the front to dominate his side’s challenge of 256-7 after losing the toss.
‘Evo’, as he is universally known, faced 125 balls and struck 13 fours – including reaching his first international ton with a drive to the mid-wicket boundary. The next highest scorer was Andy Peters on 35.
In reply, Australia struggled to reach 202-5 from their 50 overs, St Mary Redcliffe seamer Steve Sheppard dismissing both openers to finish with 2-39 from ten while Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Nigel Belletty, of Stoke Bishop, claimed a stumping.
It was Evo’s fourth century of a remarkable season which also includes hitting 177 and sharing a seniors record unbroken stand of 326 with Keith Daniels for Gloucestershire O70s against Wales.
Evo said: “I’m very proud and chuffed to bits.
“I was actually quite nervous going into the game as I had had a bad couple of weeks after sitting out a couple of matches because of a foot infection and then missing out in a couple of matches.
“My previous best for England was 81 in Sydney, so to get a hundred as captain in the first match of the series was very special.”
England O70s lineup before their opening match in the Silver Ashes series. Image courtesy Steve Walker
The three-match series continues on August 13 at Wellington – where Evo lived close by as a youngster for 18 years but never played – before concluding at Maidenhead & Bray CC on August 20.
Next, though, Evo has been selected for Gloucestershire O70s who will be home at Apperley on Thursday in the quarter-finals of the ECB Championship against Essex.
Gloucestershire O50s 2nds, meanwhile, are also preparing for an ECB championship quarter-final, against Wales at Corse & Staunton on Wednesday.
Gloucestershire O60s 2nds’ last eight clash against Middlesex at Stowell Park has been rescheduled for August 15.
And Gloucestershire O50s’ quarter-final trip against Wales will take place at Llanelli on August 13.
Main image courtesy Mark Watkins