DAN LEZAR thumped 152 off only 84 deliveries for Thornbury who went on to crush fellow high-flyers Burbage & Easton Royal by 320 runs and go top of Premier Two Glos/Wilts, writes Harry Watts.

Earlier, Davis started cautiously, whilst Lezar went after the Burbage seamers from the off, playing some aggressive shots which frequently resulted in boundaries. The partnership neared fifty, before Davis gifted a caught & bowled opportunity to Adam Lavis, which saw him depart for 17. Dan would have no doubt hoped for more, but those 17 runs saw him reach 500 league runs – the first player in the WEPL leagues to do so this season.

Marc Lezar came in at three with the score on 48-1 and took his time to get in, whilst Dan continued his rampage at the other end and picked up his fifty from just 30 balls. Marc soon got his eye in and along with Dan, the pair ensure there would be no respite for the away bowlers. The run-rate was consistently over 7 runs per over and the 50-run partnership between the Lezar’s came in just 45 deliveries – Thornbury 109-1 after 17 overs. Marc started to pick up some boundaries, but younger brother Dan was undoubtedly the star of the show. Dan took a liking to all the Burbage bowlers and started to launch some mammoth straight sixes, predominantly towards the Garage end. He showed no sign of slowing up and his 100 came up with yet another six, from just 62 deliveries, featuring 10 x 4’s and 6 x 6’s – Thornbury 157-1 in the 23rd over. The partnership between the Lezar’s passed 100 and the next milestone to be reached was Dan’s 150, which took him just 21 balls to achieve after passing 100, however he was stumped the very next ball for an outstanding 152 (84 balls, 14 x 4’s, 10 x 6’s), leaving Thornbury on 222-2 after 30 overs.

Nick Willis-Stovold came in at 4 and ensured the run-rate didn’t dry up, although Marc (60) and Yvan Grant (9) fell in quick succession to momentarily halt the TCC momentum. Captain Luke Davis came in at six and started to pick up boundaries at a rapid rate, while Stovold was content on handing the strike back to the skipper. The score passed 300 in the 40th over and the foundation was set for a huge total. Davis passed 50 after just 34 deliveries and eventually went on to make 74 (49 balls) and after a last-over cameo from Sam Summerfield, Thornbury ending on a mammoth 396-6, with Stovold run-out on the last ball for a well-made 50 (53). It was a fantastic bating performance, with Dan Lezar’s 152 ably backed up by three fifties and was also the highest ever total made by the Thornbury at home.

Burbage propelled their regular number nine batsman up the order to try and make a fast start to their run-chase, however he was bowled by Greg Mallitte in the 4th over for just 3. The real highlight of the innings came in the following over, however. Tom Bradley – who opened the bowling with Greg – delivered a back of a length delivery to Burbage dangerman Cope, who mist-timed a pull shot which seemed destined beat Stovold at mid-off. The Thornbury legend ran back, leaped like a gazelle, stuck his right arm out and plucked the ball out of thin air with it just centimetres from the ground. Queue wild scenes as the rest of the Thornbury players charged over to dive on Stovold who was yet to return to his feet. It all seemed to happen in slow motion and you really needed to be there to believe it. It gave a real boost to the players as well as those in attendance, as Bradders picked up another two quick-wickets to restrict Burbage to 28-4 in the 7th over.

Greg was piling the pressure at the Garage end with some tight bowling, which eventually resulted in the departure of Wootton, LBW for 2 and then Burbage’s number 7 batsman, Simmons, unfortunately had to retire hurt with a hamstring injury. Yvan Grant replaced Bradders (6-0-40-3) and his pace was too hot to handle for the visiting batsman. He picked up three wickets for just eight runs (3-1-8-3) and then Greg (8.4-0-26-3) bowled last batsman Ridley for 2, leaving Burbage on 76-9 and the match was over with Simmons unable to return from his injury. The innings was over inside 18 overs and the 320-run margin of victory is the biggest ever in Thornbury history. It was a truly complete performance and has propelled Luke Davis’ men to top of WEPL Prem 2 Glos/Wilts, 11 points clear of second-placed Chippenham, whom Thornbury travel to next Saturday.