He may have only had 5.2 overs to bat today in the First XI victory at Redbridge, such was the meagre total of 50 required for the win, but during the course of his 28 not out Ben Yeats became only the fourth player in the history of Harlow Cricket Club to reach 1,000 league runs in a single season.

With three fixtures still remaining Ben is eyeing Ahmed Khawaja's all time record of 1170 made in 2010. Only Nilesh Odedra (1152 in 2000) and Ahmed again (1005 in 2016) have ever scored the magical 1,000 league runs in a season at First team level for the club. Jack Sykes is the only non-First XI player to achieve the landmark, in 2016 when captaining the 5th XI.

Ben has had an incredible year. Currently the total stands at 1014 runs with three fifties and a club record five centuries this season all made at an average of a staggering 92.18.

Ben has already broken the club record he set last year for the highest runs total in a season by a home grown player at First XI level. In the entire Hamro Foundation Essex Senior League only Grant Roelofsen (Billericay & Essex County side) has scored more runs than Harlow's young opener.

Frankly the statistics are mind-boggling. As a 13 year old Ben made 68 on adult debut for the 5th XI and hasn't looked back. He is approaching 4,000 adult league runs and averages 50.60 in 58 First XI matches.

Last weekend saw Ben make his 100th league appearance for Harlow.

As part of his development, and to experience cricket in a different part of the world, Ben is signed to play for Northern Power CC as their overseas player in First Grade cricket in New South Wales, Australia during our coming winter. There he will be reunited with former Harlow seamer Mitch Howarde. Before he departs from Heathrow he'll be determined to get as close and possibly beyond that all-time record set by Ahmed twelve years ago.

A superb season Ben - massive congratulations from the entire club ( and especially from the direction of the score box!)