Swashbuckling six-hitter Shu Chowdhary smashed a career-best 187 and had the locals running for cover as championship chasing Burridge ran up a staggering 408-4 before completing an 86-run victory over SEPL Division 1 rivals Rowledge.

It was the second highest total recorded on the Southern Electric Premier League’s second rung – the Burridge score falling four runs shy of an Andover total of 412-4 at Rowledge’s compact ground four years ago.

The match itself set a new SPL record – Rowledge’s 322-9 response bringing the aggregate match run total to 730, almost 500 of which came in boundaries.

Twelve balls were used during the match – five of the ones struck out of the ground were never retrieved.

Amazingly, Rowledge were down and almost out for the count at 119-8 – but their last two wickets added another 203 runs, with the ten and 11 batsmen both making half-centuries !

That double-century tail-wag cost Burridge a maximum-point haul.

Chowdhary hit the ball to all parts, either completely clearing houses or landing the ball on roofs, landing shots in front and back gardens and across the roads surrounding Rowledge’s village recreation ground.

He hit 13 sixes and 18 fours, running all bar 37 of his 187 runs.

Chowdhary dominated a 220-run opening partnership with former Hampshire batsman Derek Kenway (85) before falling at 318-2.

Sam Lavery (36), Geoff Dods (35 not out) and Rick Ankers (31) chipped in before the Burridge innings closed at 408-4.

Will Davies (30) and Ricky Yates (28) made stars for Rowledge, who sank to 119-8 against Paul Ancell (4-44) before they showed any real resistance.

Teenager Will Arnold lost three partners before being joined by Tim Wheatley, who celebrated a maiden SPL fifty in an 81-run ninth-wicket stand which was eventually curtailed at 200-9.

The game effectively won at the tea-break, Burridge’s frustrations grew as Arnold was then joined by last-man Richard Forbes, who also celebrated a highest-ever 53 not out.

The pair chiselled out another 122 runs as the 16-year old Arnold went on to make an unbeaten 104, his maiden Premier Division hundred.