Sixteen-year-old centurion makes it day to savour at Goodwood

On a day of sunshine, blue skies but freezing winds Goodwood entertained Gosport CC – and it was a day to remember for 16-year-old Toby Toft.

Goodwood put out one of their youngest sides for a long time with four under-17s playing.

Toft scored a magnificent 118*, his first senior hundred. He scored all round the ground, his power contributing to his 66 in boundaries (12 fours and three sixes). He also played the delicate shots, underlined by his ten singles to go from 90 to 100.

Toft was ably assisted by Oscar de Lacy (31) in a partnership of 120, de Lacy also playing some beautiful strokes.

It was wonderful to see two younger players score so freely and also keep the ball on the ground when they needed to.

Henry Whitby had opened with a quickfire 19 with Mike Smith, who retired on 50, while Nick Bett on his debut scored a well-struck 11 with Matt de Lacy (four).

The innings was closed out by two quick cameos from Stanley Mayne (21*) and Matt Geffen (22*), Goodwood finishing on 300-4.

Gosport started slowly and after ten overs were 27-2, Brett (1-17) and Mayne (1-33) taking the early wickets. The Gosport score was dominated by J Harris, who scored all round the ground in his well-constructed 92 before succumbing to Geffen (1-7).

Matt Bennsion (2-18), back bowling his leg breaks, was the other wicket-taker.

The run rate was too much for Gosport and their innings closed on 181-5 as Goodwood won by 119 runs.

It’s been a good start to the season for Goodwood – unbeaten in April.