MARTIN Millard continued his fine form from last season, cracking an unbeaten 154 for Dyrham & Hinton away to Bristol Pakistanis 2nds in Division Six of the Martin Berrill Sports Bristol & District League.
The opener, who last year topped the league charts with more than 1,200 runs, including six centuries, was once again in a dominant mood, smashing 15 fours and seven sixes off 129 balls in his side’s challenge of 273-1 after losing the toss.
Bristol Pakistanis made a determined attempt to reach their imposing target, finishing just ten runs short as Millard had a big say in the second half of the game, completing two stumping and holding on to a catch as Richard Greenwood captured 4-30 and Andy Lewis 3-47.
Skipper Cameron Perry also enjoyed the warm conditions, reaching 121 off just 62 balls (11 fours, 10 sixes) for Hambrook who trumped Lodway by 116 runs in Division One.
Perry’s efforts, along with 67 from Alex Hunt, saw the South Gloucestershire side reach 315-9 before Jay Wittram claimed 5-16 from eight while there were also two wickets for Perry.
In Division Three, Bristol Lions and Long Ashton tied a thriller, both sides being bowled out for 137.
Captain Joe Eizenberg (95) and Barney Mead (74) shared an opening stand of 174 in Division Seven East for St George Valley who fell to a four-wicket reverse away to Frenchay 3rds, Dan Thorne leading from the front with 71 from 43.
Lewis Palmer ended with terrific figures of 5-10 in Shirehampton’s 101-run home defeat of Brislington 2nds in Division Two.
Tom Williams (60) and Khalid Ali (4-17) took starring roles as Coalpit Heath went top of the Senior Division with a 124-run defeat of Whitchurch who were dismissed for 61.
Captain Ross Robbins led the way with 78 for Hanham in a 150-run victory at Claverham, and Muhammad Sajjad’s spell of 4-24 helped clinch a 105-run win for Bristol Pakistanis at Cleeve.
Frenchay, aiming to bounce straight back to WEPL, made it two in a row with a 61-run home derby success over Downend 2nds while Winterbourne, who also dropped down, were bowled out for 89 at home to Pak Bristolians who nipped in by three wickets.
Ismail Zia (3-12 from nine) and Abdullah Tabriz (3-18 from 4.2) shone with the ball before Dan Moore (3-20 from seven) did his best to slow Pak Bristolians’ progress.