CRAIG Johnson has always encouraged promising junior batsmen at Middlewich to make it hard for bowlers to get them out.

His youngest son, Regan, followed that advice to the letter while opening for the second team last weekend to make a 10-wicket win at Hawk Green feel that much sweeter.

The 14-year-old was unbeaten on 54, and faced more than 100 balls, to help his side to their target.

Meanwhile his dad, also the captain, scored a century during an unbeaten partnership worth 213 runs.

“We’d not been there before,” Craig told the Guardian.

“But it might be my favourite ground now!”

The duo had been at the crease together previously, but not from the start of an innings.

Regan was promoted up the order to fill in for a teammate who had to work.

“I only give him one simple instruction,” said Craig, who finished on 131 after finding the boundary more than 20 times – his highest individual score.

“And that was to protect his wicket and see how it goes from there.

“I say the same to other young lads that I’ve coached or who come into the team because so many of them are in a hurry to score quickly and then get themselves out.

“It’s a long time to watch from the boundary if you do."

Middlewich seconds had won only once previously in the Cheshire League’s Division B East this season before visiting the newcomers.

The Johnsons could not step into the limelight without taking it from Sam Brothers, who also enjoyed an afternoon to remember.

He returned career-best figures of 8-66, including the wicket of danger man Murray Hill (56) to help restrict the hosts to 210 all out.

"To take eight wickets in any game is phenomenal,” Craig said.

“For Sam, who hasn’t been feeling good about his game, even more so.”