When Painswick chairman Andy Barnard spoke to The Local Answer last week he said the club were “expecting big things” from one-time Gloucestershire all-rounder Benny Howell this season.

And the 37-year-old, who is in his second season with the club, certainly delivered on the opening day of the new West of England Premier League campaign, smashing 105 runs from just 72 balls in 82 minutes of mayhem at Hatherley and Reddings in Premier 2 Glos/Wilts.

Batting at four, he hit six fours and eight sixes and Barnard said: “It was fantastic, really good, a great way for him to start the season. We’re really pleased.”

Barnard confirmed that Howell, who the club hope will be available to play six or eight games this season, is in the team for Saturday’s game at home to newly-promoted Chipping Sodbury.

Howell, who played in Gloucestershire's Royal London One-Day Cup final win over Surrey at Lord's in 2015, is still a top-drawer player.

He has a two-year contract to play for Nottinghamshire Outlaws in the Vitality Blast and he will also be involved in The Hundred this season after being signed by SunRisers Leeds for £50,000.

Howell shared in a fourth-wicket partnership of 131 with South African overseas player Greg Ford, who made 52, as Painswick reached 273-4 in their 50 overs at North Park on Saturday.

But Howell’s pyrotechnics were not enough to force a win because the rain intervened with the home side, who included Gloucestershire white-ball captain Jack Taylor, 95-1 from 18.5 overs in reply.

Aranyadev Jhala was unbeaten on 51 from 55 balls and Barnard said: “The game was very well set up, it was a shame the rain came when it did and it had to be abandoned.

“They were going very well but 270 is a lot of runs to get. But what it did show was two good sides who are looking to have good seasons.”

Hatherley travel to Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday.