DEAN Waller says he is still getting to grips with his record-breaking score for Leigh in the Shepherd Neame Essex League on Saturday.

The powerful Waller, 33, scored 200 not out in just 103 balls at the top of the order as Division Three champions Leigh crushed bottom club Epping, winning by a margin of 200 runs.

It is the biggest score in the league in the club’s 110 year history, beating the previous best of 191, also set by Waller.

And he said he was pleased to reach the landmark, having now hit 890 runs for the season with one match remaining.

“I am still struggling to get to grips with it,” said Waller, who hit 16 sixes and 13 fours.

“We had already won promotion so the pressure was off in that regard so I asked Joe (Sexton - captain) if I could have a knock at the top of the order.

“I wouldn’t have been allowed to open the batting if we weren’t already promoted, plus Iain McDonald was away.

“The rain meant it was not a great pitch and I know Joe wanted to try and build a big score early. He wanted to get to 200 as soon as possible.

“It was nice to let loose alongside Billy King (63 not out) although I got lucky as I was dropped about four times.

“But it is nice to set records for the club and it has been a great season for us all.”

Leigh have won 15 of their 17 matches so far, following relegation from Division Two last year.

And Waller has now called on the Chalkwell Park-based team to push on next year.

“It wasn’t really a tough season for us,” said Waller, who has been at the club since he was 14. “We lost one and had one game abandoned but have been very strong.

“It was important to bounce back straight away and we have done that following our relegation.

“If certain guys didn’t perform this year, others did step up. People have been available too and that was a crippler when I was captain.

“We have done what we needed to do. We have a young side and the ability in the side is unbelievable. I can’t see why, if we bring a few in, we can’t go up again next season.”