New Ribblesdale Wanderers professional Jake Brown enjoyed a debut that may never be surpassed on a record-breaking day at Church Meadow.

The 23-year-old South Australian shattered the Veka Ribblesdale League senior division batting record with an incredible innings of 238 not out against Blackburn Northern.

Brown, who only arrived in the UK 48 hours earlier, struck 20 boundaries and 18 sixes in his 147 ball innings.

Team mate Ian Britcliffe laughed: “Jake was suffering from jet lag, said he was full of a cold and couldn’t see the ball.

“And he might have finished with an even better score but they only managed to bowl 43 overs.

“They started to slow it right down once they knew the record might be broken.

“It’s just a pity we didn’t get him earlier in the season.”

Brown, who bats right handed but bowls left arm, fast medium, eclipsed Kashif Siddique’s innings of 233 for Padiham against Wanderers in 2007.

And Ribblesdale’s total of 310-3 has only been topped four times in the history of the competition.

Unsurprisingly, Wanderers took the points after a rain delay.

Northern, chasing a revised target of 249, reached 133-4 with Naeem Ashraf making 90 from only 66 deliveries.

In contrast to Wanderers’ massive score, Edenfield managed just 45 against Oswaldtwistle who knocked off the runs without losing a wicket.

Brown’s performance even overshadowed another victory for champions elect Baxenden.

They defeated Earby by eight wickets to make it 12 wins from 13 games with one abandonment.

Baxenden required 132 from 26 overs and thanks to a rapid 75 from Baber Naeem they reached their target.

Champions Great Harwood are now second, 38 points behind the leaders.

They beat Barnoldswick by 36 runs in another match affected by the weather.

However, Harwood are just one point ahead of Padiham with Read a further point behind.

Settle pro Brent Findlay enjoyed himself with bat and ball in the victory over Clitheroe.

The 23-year-old Kiwi claimed 6-58 as Clitheroe were dismissed for 142.

Needing a revised target of 114, Findlay than struck an unbeaten 58.

Lancashire second teamer Scott Friend, 17, hit a half century and later held five catches as Cherry Tree defeated Read, who are now in freefall, by five runs.

RIBBLESDALE LEAGUE RESULTS, Senior League: Cherry Tree 226-3 (Darren Broom 88, Scott Friend 52) Read 153-7, Cherry Tree won by five runs, Read chasing revised target; Earby 158-9 Baxenden 135-2 (Baber Naeem 75no), Baxenden won by eight wickets chasing reduced target; Edenfield 45 Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 46-0 Oswaldtwistle won by 10 wickets; Great Harwood 190 (U Hassan 6-69) Barnoldswick 114-6 (Matt Nutter 69no), Great Harwood won by 36 runs in rain reduced game; Padiham 216-9 Whalley 147-8, Padiham won by 26 runs in rain reduced game; Ribblesdale Wanderers 310-3 (Jake Brown 238no) Blackburn Northern 133-4 (Naeem Ashraf 90), Ribblesdale won by 116 runs in rain reduced match; Settle 114-4 (Brent Findlay 58no) Clitheroe 142 (Findlay 6-58), Settle won by six wickets chasing reduced target.