Turner scores his maiden century, aged 76

Report by Clyde Jeavons

How does it feel to score your maiden century at the age of 76? 

Well, just ask Merstham Cricket Club's John Turner, who did exactly that this week for Surrey's Over 70s 2nd XI against Kent at Four Elms.

Opening the batting, he carried his bat for 129 almost flawless runs, in a fluent innings which contained 15 boundaries. 

John Turner

This must be an extremely rare achievement, if not a first, if you wanted a definition of happiness, it was written on John's face in the bar afterwards. 

And if you wanted a justification for seniors cricket, this was it. As for the match, another rather one-sided and overwhelming victory over a side who admitted they were a little under-powered: hence their decision to invite Surrey to bat. 

The runs flowed from the start, Jeff Greenwood-Hone and Turner putting on 99 for the first wicket before the former's demise for a well-measured 55. Hitchman and Montgomery then fell cheaply, letting in Richard Jackson, who shared in an unbroken stand of 181 with our century hero with a rampaging 73. 

Surrey scored 294-3 in 40 overs, the skipper's only complaint being the failure to reach 300: a target for the future. 

Kent metaphorically waved a white flag from the start and didn't really bother to go for the runs, prodding their way to 112-5 against line-and-length bowling. Gray shone with 2-13, and David Turner, Sharp and Greenwood-Hone pitched in with a wicket apiece for similarly few runs.