It was a good day on the county championship circuit yesterday for two West Cumbrian brothers.
Graham Clark, of Durham, scored only the second century of his career, while brother Jordan Clark took an important 3-61 for Surrey against Kent.
The two started their cricketing careers with home village Cleator, where a third brother Darren is a key member of the current side in the Cumbria League.
At Bristol against Gloucestershire Graham made exactly 100 from 155 balls as Surrey ended the day on 393-8 just seven runs short of a fourth batting point.
Afterwards he said: “Scoring a hundred is a special feeling because I didn’t think this day would come again. I’ve not played much red-ball cricket in the last few years and it was good to be given the opportunity.
“Our head coach Ryan Campbell has showed faith in me, given me a lot of confidence and given me so much to be thankful for. It was good that I was able to repay him out in the middle.”
Meanwhile at the Oval, Surrey had reduced Kent to 118-7 but allowed them to recover to reach 278 as a last wicket stand of 82 between Joe Evison (77no) and Michael Hogarth (43) did them proud.
Clark had removed three of the top six when Kent were in trouble but he admitted: “We would probably have liked to restrict them to a bit less than that in their first innings but we are happy to be where we are going into day two.”
Surrey had ended the day on 88-1 with Dom Sibley (35no) and England Test star Ollie Pope (20no) going well.
Meanwhile brother Darren will be preparing to do his bit tomorrow for Cleator in a home game with Keswick.
