Captain John Evans continued his summer to remember with a magnificent unbeaten 114 as England Over-70s opened the three-match Silver Ashes series with a 54-run victory at Colchester and East Essex CC.

The Frocester chairman and Gloucestershire stalwart, batting at three, led from the front to dominate his side’s challenge of 256-7 after losing the toss.

‘Evo’, as he is universally known, faced 125 balls and struck 13 fours – including reaching his first international ton with a drive to the midwicket boundary. The next highest scorer was Andy Peters on 35.

In reply, Australia struggled to reach 202-5 from their 50 overs, St Mary Redcliffe seamer Steve Sheppard dismissing both openers to finish with 2-39 from 10, while Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Nigel Belletty, of Stoke Bishop, claimed a stumping.

It was Evo’s fourth century of a remarkable season, which also includes hitting 177 and sharing a seniors record unbroken stand of 326 with Keith Daniels for Gloucestershire Over-70s against Wales.

Evo said: “I’m very proud and chuffed to bits. I was actually quite nervous going into the game as I had had a bad couple of weeks after sitting out a couple of matches because of a foot infection and then missing out in a couple of games.

“My previous best for England was 81 in Sydney, so to get a hundred as captain in the first match of the series was very special.”

The three-match series continues on Sunday at Wellington – where Evo lived close by as a youngster for 18 years but never played – before concluding at Maidenhead & Bray CC on Sunday 20^th August.

Next, though, Evo has been selected for Gloucestershire Over-70s who will be home at Apperley on Thursday in the quarter-finals of the ECB Championship against Essex.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire Over-60s 2nds’ quarter-final against Middlesex at Stowell Park has been rescheduled for 15th August.

And Gloucestershire Over-50s’ quarter-final trip against Wales will take place at Llanelli on Sunday.