Horspath Cricket Club

MAX Smith was delighted that his match-winning stand with Robbie Eason against Wembdon in the Voneus Village Cup brought so much joy to the Horspath supporters.
He hammered a superb unbeaten 80 off 63 balls in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 171 with opener Eason, who cracked 102 not out, to take the home side to 236-4 and set up a 76-run win in the fifth-round tie.
Max, whose blistering knock included 12 fours and a six, said: "As a club cricketer you rarely get the chance to make so many people happy, and I felt me, and Robbie did that today.
"I have never been in a partnership like that before. It was amazing."
Max came to the crease with Horspath 65-4 in the 18th over and with Eason proceeded to take the game away from the Somerset & Avon Group winners.
He said: "I think we were getting starts and losing wickets. It is about holding a partnership together and building it and then accelerate with 10 overs to go. It was important to have wickets in hand."
Max's previous half-century for Horspath came when he made 74 at Amersham last season, and he added: "I have never scored over 50 here, so to do it in a national competition is amazing. It's a great feeling."
He also struck the first blow in Wembdon's innings with a brilliant direct hit to run out opener Harry Everett, before leaving the field later after being hit on the foot stopping a powerful drive while bowling.
Reporting he was none the worse, he is now looking ahead to the next round away to Grampound Road, near St Austell, on July 2.  
He said: "I think if we bat first in every game, we have a chance of going all the way. Batting first you can create scoreboard pressure."