Chris Douglas continued his sparkling form to inspire challengers Willow Cuts to a landslide 180-run victory over cup-holders PHC in the second round of the Western Counties at White Hill Field on Saturday.

The experienced all-rounder thumped a maiden hundred in the competition, dominated a century partnership with captain Kwasi James and claimed four wickets with his off spin to cap a superb all round display with bat and ball.

“Chris knows the game and any team with him in there is going to have a chance to win,” Dexter Basden, the Cuts coach, said. “He’s just a good player and a motivator.”

The Cuts guest player earned man of the match accolades as well as two plane tickets offered by David Burt, the Premier, for the leading runscorer and wicket-taker of each team.

Dalin Richardson and Kevin Tucker were the leading runscorer and wicket-taker for PHC.

Douglas’s superb all-round display followed on the heels of his maiden hundred (128) playing for champions Somerset in Cup Match the previous week.

Cuts piled up 343 for six in their allotted 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat before dismissing PHC for 123 in 25.3 overs to regain the coveted Western Counties trophy.

“It was a nice, convincing win,” Basden added.

“It was our first win of the season and the fellows are delighted to finally get a win.”

Douglas and James added 193 in 31.2 overs for the first wicket to lay the foundation for Cuts’ huge total.

“It was a blessing to get that start; that’s the best start we have had for a long, long time,” Basden said.

“Chris and the captain Kwasi put on a good opening stand. We had to get a good total and figured 350 or anywhere in that range after the good start.

“The field was a bit slow so they ran more ones and twos then anything else.“

The left handed Douglas led the charge with 110 from 116 balls with five sixes and seven fours, his hundred arriving off 112 balls in 163 minutes.

“It was a good innings,” Basden said. “Chris started off a bit slow but found the gaps.”

James struck 74 off 82 balls with four fours and as many sixes, reaching his fifty from 62 balls in 11 minutes.

“Kwasi also batted well and was certainly up for the challenge,” Basden said.

Dean Stevens (47), Ros Solomon Burrows (33) and Joseph Basden (24 not out) were the remaining Cuts batsmen in double figures.

Tucker led the PHC attack with two for 47 respectively.

PHC were costly in the field as they leaked 52 extras, including 28 wides.

The cup holders made a fist of it replying to Cuts formidable total and were 153 for four in the 20th over.

However, they suffered a massive collapse and never recovered as their remaining six wickets fell for only ten runs, five of them for no addition to the score.

Fourth change Douglas was the catalyst behind the slide as he exploited the conditions with lethal effect on the way to impressive figures of four for seven from just three overs including a maiden.

“Chris put the ball in the right areas,” Basden said. “Not too much turn; just putting it in the right areas where the batsmen had to move their feet and try and go for the hit and they weren’t making contact.”

Cuts opening bowler Micah Simons and second change Antonio Darrell claimed three for 34 and two for 29 respectively to hold their end of the deal.

Guest player and all-rounder Richardson led the PHC batting with 41 from 34 balls with two fours and as many sixes.

Next high man was the 35 extras Cuts conceded, including 26 wides.

Davon Dill (25), wicketkeeper Kevin Lambe (24), Ori Wilson (16) and Jahmari Beach (14) were the remaining PHC batsmen in double figures.