Bowlers beware! Stuart Hammond is on the warpath and he's hungry for more runs.

The Eight Ash Green opener has already become the first batsman in the area to enjoy the glory of reaching 1,000 runs this season.

Now the 25-year-old Jaygate Homes Two Counties Championship and Osborne League batsman has set himself a target of 2,500 runs by the end of the season.

"I was hoping to register my 1,000 runs before June," said Hammond as he prepared to take Harwich and Dovercourt's Two Counties bowlers to task at Low Road at the weekend.

"It would have been great if I had managed it. As it was I got to within a 100 of my target. I have reached 1,000 in each of the last five seasons and the most I have ever scored in a season is 2,400 - that's why I'm setting myself a new end-of-season target of 2,500."

Hammond launched his new quest last weekend with another 107 in an eight-wicket win over Colchester and East Essex at Castle Park and an undefeated 46 in a nine-wicket win at St Osyth.

And having already started his season with a brilliant 145 in the opening Two Counties second division clash at Stowmarket way back in April, the prolific run-getter is confident there are plenty more where that big century came from.

"I was immensely proud of that innings. It is my best yet," said Hammond.

"The wicket was very wet, the ball was seaming about and the outfield was slow.

"Batting was very difficult to begin with and considering the fact it was the first game of the season and I had nowhere near found my touch made it extra special for me."

Hammond's current run-tally stands at around 1,250.

He has an average of around 75 in the Two Counties Championship and 80 in the Osborne League.

He said: "I have no great desire to move away from Eight Ash Green in pursuit of a higher grade of cricket."

No wonder. His father Colin and uncle Keith are both Eight Ash Green stalwarts and cousin Alistair is captain. Brothers Keith junior and Alex play for the club colts.

"I have grown up with the club and my ambition is to see Eight Ash Green into the top division of the two leagues."

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