Broomfield cricketer Ian Bowyer smashed the club record books on Saturday, when he scored an amazing 195 runs in just over 43 overs.

Bowyer, 23, achieved his feat for the club's second eleven in their T. Rippon Mid-Essex League Division Seven match against Stock third eleven.

Ian, who lives in Chelmsford and is a teacher at the Newlands Spring Primary School, said: "It was a vital match for us, as ourselves and Stock were occupying the two bottom places in division seven, and both sides were in need of a victory.

"I have been playing for Broomfield since joining the club as a colt when I was 12, and progressed through the second eleven to the first team."

Ian was elected as captain of the second team for the 1999 season, but following a good personal start to the campaign, he was promoted to the first team, who play in division one of the T. Rippon League.

However, Saturday saw him back captaining the second eleven, and he made the Stock bowlers toil in the hot weather.

"I opened the innings with Paul Storey-Smith and we shared an opening stand of 162, and, despite the heat, my main aim was to help Broomfield set a difficult target for Stock to chase," Ian added.

And the runs just keep coming and Ian was eventually out in the 44th of the allotted 45 overs, his innings containing five sixes and 22 fours, as Broomfield totalled 326 for four.

Ian, who also helps run the club's colts section, said: "To say I was physically drained is an understatement, and on Saturday evening, I was suffering from sunstroke, but it was great to beat the record for runs in a single innings, which was 154 not out, set by Stuart Grant in the early 1990's."

The target did prove too high for Stock, who replied with 171 for six, thus giving Broomfield victory by 155 runs.

"It was nice to get the 195 in front of Chris Fagg, who still regularly plays for the club, as he was organising the colts section when I joined the club 11 years ago," Ian said.

Was Ian disappointed at being dismissed just five runs short of a double century? "Not really, it was a thrill to set a new record, and to get 200 would have been special, but I was happy to achieve what I did."

Despite suffering from the heat, Ian was back in action on Sunday for Broomfield's friendly match against Great Baddow, but he was unable to repeat his feat of the previous day, as he was asked to bat at number nine and scored just eight not out.

"That didn't bother me," Ian said, "and I completed a memorable weekend by hitting the winning runs!"

Record breaker . . Broomfield Cricket Club's Ian Bowyer, who scored 195 in his club's second eleven match against Stock on Saturday.

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