DAN Hayden made Reading Midweek League history by smashing an astonishing double century during Peppard Stoke Row's 138-run victory at home to Mortimer.

Hayden (202no), became the first batsman to score a double century in more than 30 years of the league being formed, striking the ball to all parts.

After blocking his first two balls of the 12 eight-ball over affair, Hayden launched the next two balls of Jimmy Stansfield's over for six as PSR raced to 22-0 after the opening over.

At the other end, Charlie Laing struck 27 from nine balls until he was dismissed by Richard Stansfield, while Jimmy George removed Charlie Stockings cheaply.

However, Hayden's pyrotechnics continued at the other end as he raced to his century by the end of the seventh over.

From there he increased his scoring rate despite suffering a hamstring injury which ruled him out of his side's Berkshire, Mid Bucks, and Chilterns League Championship game with Ruislip Victoria on Saturday, striking six consecutive maximums off the unfortunate Craig Molyneux, and eventually finishing his 73-ball blitz having hit a staggering 20 6s and 13 4s.

Having posted another possible record score of 262-3, Mortimer posted their highest score of the season in reply, dismissed for 124 with George (40) top scoring.

Peppard Stoke Row captain Michael Chard reflected: "I joked when I asked Dan top open that he should 'go and give it a whack', and it was pretty obvious from early on we were watching something special.

"To hit that number of sixes – one was so big we found a road I didn't know existed to bring the ball back from – is an unbelievable effort."

One of the league's organisers, Hugh Asquith, who was umpiring at the game, admitted he could not believe what he had witnessed.