News: Stylish Milsom hungry for more (July 2004)
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| Milsom - a chanceless innings |
One of the YMCA's most accomplished batsmen, Ben Milsom reminded his team-mates of his natural batting talent during the convincing home win over Bitton CC in the most emphatic way possible, by scoring a magnificent unbeaten innings of 124.
The titanic innings rockets the right-handed Milsom into an elite group of the YM's most outstanding batsmen, past and present, and gives him the second highest score in the entire Bristol & District league during last weekend.
| HIGHEST LEAGUE SCORES | |
| S.BUCKLAND | 131* IN 1989 - 1st XI |
| B.A.MILSOM | 124* IN 2004 - 1st XI |
| L.C.HARRIS | 123* IN 1985 - 2nd XI |
| R.J.BRITTON | 122 IN 2001 - 4th XI |
| M.A.LAWRENCE | 117 IN 1981 - 2nd XI |
| C.B.DREW | 114* IN 1998 - 2nd XI |
| C.B.DREW | 110 IN 1998 - 2nd XI |
| S.BUCKLAND | 109* IN 1988 - 1st XI |
| K.YOUNG | 108 IN 1980 - 1st XI |
| S.R.SUTOR | 107 IN 1991 - 2nd XI |
The total becomes the second highest league score in the club's 125 year history and puts the sports fanatic ahead of former player Lionel Harris' superb knock of 123 against Chipping Sodbury Second Eleven and just seven runs behind former First Team skipper, Steve Buckland's all-time record of 131 at Failand & Portbury in 1989. A score which remains a daunting target for batsmen, of all the four sides, to reach.
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| Ben looks on, during his mammoth innings, as his bother, Tom hits a boundary |
Milsom's achievement is made all the more remarkable, not because he had not previously reached the half century mark for the First Eleven, but because a player of his quality would have gone 50 league innings without stamping his name on the club's league batting records. However, the chanceless 'ton' against Bitton CC was not Milsom's maiden century as he is already a member of the Centurions Club after equalling the highest senior score in the club's history when he scored 134 in a Fourth Eleven friendly several years ago.
First Eleven skipper, Simon White and his squad (including Ben's father, Keith) will be hoping that Milsom continues his good form throughout the 2004 season and uses century as a springboard to produce many more match winning innings in the future.
Click here to view an interview with Ben, following his record breaking score.
