Vale League batsman equals club record

The 19-year-old left-hand opening batsman slammed an unbeaten 145 for Drax out of a team total of 195-6 in their division one victory at home to Fulfordgate.

It was the highest innings of his career and equalled the club record 145 team-mate Keith Powell scored for Drax last season. Steve hit 13 fours and seven sixes.

For a short while, Steve batted with his father Paul Smith, the team captain, but dad was soon run out.

"It was his shout and he called for me to run so I did but he was run out," explained Steve.

"The team innings started very slowly. We'd not scored after four overs and had made only 62 after20," said Steve. "Keith Powell was with me at the crease and we decided to go for it and that's when I started scoring heavily. The highlight was getting to my century."

It's the second century he has made for Drax, with 101 in a 20-overs game last season, but he was injured when top-edging the ball into an eye.

"My confidence suffered a lot after that, but this innings has helped get some of it back."

An all-rounder, Steve is a useful right-handed pace bowler. He used to bat in the middle order but moved up to open the innings a couple of years ago when there was a vacancy.

He has been playing cricket since he was a youngster, having been coached by Steve Foster at Goole Town. Steve played for their junior side and made his debut for Drax Power Station as a fielder when he was only nine.

He captained the York and District side for two years at under-13s level after having taken trials and also played for Doncaster juniors.

He is the third generation of his family to play for Drax, and his grandfather was also a left-hand bat, as is his father, who bowls right-handed and completed Drax's 88-run win over Fulfordgate by taking 4-24.

Steve thinks he will probably complete this season with Drax and then think about moving up a grade. He recently became a qualified plumber and works for a Drax firm.