RECORD breaker Russell Whalley didn't just stun the Ribblesdale Wanderers bowlers on Saturday - he surprised himself as well.

The Great Harwood batsman hit a mammoth 214 in the Ramsbottom Cup tie, the highest score in Ribblesdale League history.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," said Whalley. "I didn't know anything about the record because they're not things I'm normally bothered about.

"I was concentrating on getting to 200 and when I did, the umpire told me that the record was only 204 and I was gobsmacked.

"There have been some good pros in the league that haven't done it so it's a great achievement."

Whalley 's previous highest score of 142 off just 84 balls came in his days at Rishton.

And the league's previous best knock of 204 also came in the Ramsbottom Cup back in 1990, courtesy of Cherry Tree's Craig Haworth against Earby.

But he beat both scores out of sight as his 214 arrived from just 141 deliveries, with 180 of the runs in boundaries - 18 fours and 18 sixes!

Whalley said: "If it was there, it went. The pitch wasn't great and there were a few slogs from me but a few good shots as well.

"Ribblesdale really didn't bowl that badly but I got hold of them. It was one of those days when I was on form.

"When I got to 100 I was chuffed because I've not had a great start with the bat in my first year back at Ribblesdale."

Indeed, this was Whalley's first century since he came back to Harwood from Rishton at the start of the season, but he nearly didn't even make double figures.

He added: "I was dropped on six but it was only a half chance. The ball was travelling really quickly but I didn't look back after that."

In fact, Whalley was in such hot form that he found himself confronted with a whole army of fielders later in the innings.

"I looked up and saw spectators and players running to protect their cars. At one stage I think there must have been about 40 stood in front of them," he said.

Whalley's score is the latest family milestone as his dad Eric, also a former Rishton cricketer, is chairman of UniBond Premier Division champions Accrington Stanley.

Russell has also played football for Great Harwood Town while his brother Paul has appeared for various non-league teams.

Whalley outshone pro Andy Crook, who hit 72 as home side Great Harwood reached 327-4 in 48 overs.

A dispirited Wanderers could then only muster 173 in reply, Shahid Nawaz getting 48 and Martin Briggs 46.

While Whalley the player was breaking records at Great Harwood, Whalley the team were celebrating two outstanding individual performances of their own.

Simon Gorton took four wickets and hit 95 runs while pro Neil Cordingley took three wickets and was unbeaten with the bat on 93 as they thrashed Edenfield.

The shock of the round came when Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, second from bottom of the Ribblesdale League without a win, knocked out leaders Settle.

Runs were also hard to come by at Cherry Tree, whose 102 was enough to see off Earby, who managed just 81.

Padiham's season stepped up a gear with a five wicket win at Blackburn Northern as captain Anthony Hall led the way with 51 not out.

Jonathan Harvey finally found his range for Baxenden, hitting 63 to help dump Barnoldswick out of the cup.