26-05-2025
'It's a very good feeling': Colchester's Charlie Allison on maiden century
CHARLIE Allison says it was 'very special' to hit a memorable maiden century for Essex to stun champions Surrey at the Kia Oval.
The Colchester batter's brilliant 140, in his sixth first-class match, helped Essex rack up a second innings 479 and leave Surrey with an unlikely victory target of 418, in their by Rothesay County Championship game.
Allison, whose previous first-class best was 28, smashed 19 fours in a 235-ball epic spanning just over five hours.
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The 20-year-old, remarkably, had come in on a pair after being caught behind off New Zealand Test all-rounder Nathan Smith from his fifth ball in Essex's first innings of 217.
In nine previous first-class innings since making his debut last month, the Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club member had made only 154 runs at an average of 17.11.
But when he tucked his 185th ball to deep mid on and sauntered for a single, Allison was coolness personified as he initially hardly reacted to his achievement until removing his helmet and raising both arms in the air to acknowledge generous applause from a sizeable third day crowd.
These are the moments. ❤️
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 25, 2025
Noah Thain, his contemporary from Essex age groups and recent England U19 teams, gave Allison a bear hug and the pair then continued an impressive seventh-wicket stand that eventually raised 116 and, in effect, batted Surrey all but out of the match.
Allison, who signed a two-year deal with Essex last October, finally miscued a swipe at Clark, giving a simple return catch as the last few Essex wickets fell in a flurry of slogs but whatever he goes on to achieve in his cricket career he will never forget this day.
Allison said: 'It's a very good feeling! This is my sixth match at this level and I'd yet to get to 50 so to go on and make a hundred was a real thrill.
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'To do it at such a great ground like the Oval, and in the very first match I've ever played here, is also very special.
'I was nervous at the start of the innings - I was on a pair!
"But as soon as I inside-edged that first boundary, to get off the mark, I felt calm and I just concentrated on playing the ball.
💯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔 𝗕𝗢𝗪! 🦅 #FlyLikeAnEagle
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 25, 2025
'I will always remember this innings and for Noah [Thain], one of my best mates, to be at the other end to give me a hug when I got to the hundred was just perfect really.
'The pitch was definitely a bit slower today than it was earlier in the game but there is still something in it for the bowlers and I'd like to think we have enough runs on the board and that we can go on to win the match tomorrow.'
