Durham Country Cricket Club

Smith celebrates his 100 - photo courtesy of Paul Davies

After a few fifties this season Will Smith was delighted to convert today’s effort  into a hundred and will return to the crease on day two 153*, Durhamccc.co.uk caught up with him at the close of play.

"Up until this point I was also the only batsman in the top seven who hadn't scored a century this season so it felt good to get the runs. I went away in the winter and realised how much I loved this game. I've got too much of a good opportunity to let that slide.

"I love playing for Durham and I want to continue to do that for many years to come. This is something I had to try everything in, I've started reasonably well, but I needed this big score.

"There was a lot of emotion there," added Smith, who was stranded on 99 at tea. "Batsman are judged on hundreds, that's the currency we deal in. There was a release when I got to the three figures, but I was determined to keep going.

"On a wicket like this you don't want to squander your chance, it really has been pretty flat so far. But things can happen, they had a dodgy wicket here the other week so we know there is that in there somewhere, and we also have a quality leg spinner in our ranks, so hopefully we can put them under pressure if we can score enough runs in the first innings."

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