Horley batsman Chris Allen scored his 20,000th run for the club on Sunday – only the second batter to do so in the 200-plus year history of the club.
Allen, who umpires for the Horley first team games, returned to playing this season after a three-year break, after he was made aware that he was just 127 runs short of the 20,000 landmark.
It took him just three appearances for the club’s Sunday Strollers to pass the milestone. He made 57 not out in his first match last month, hit 54 last week and got the 16 runs he needed on Sunday, striking a four to pass the 20,000, and being greeted with a standing ovation from the Horley players and club members who had come to the game in the hope of watching Allen make his own little bit of history.
He batted on to make 30 before being caught out, but Horley went on to win against Jamaica Inn Pirates.
Allen, aged 55, was delighted and probably a bit relieved to pass the landmark after falling just short last week. He has been involved with Horley Cricket Club for as long as he can remember. “My parents first brought me down here when I was a baby,” he said. He recalls that his first appearance was as a substitute fielder in 1975, but he didn’t score his first runs for the club until 1978 and he has played for all the Horley senior teams, scoring a total of 26 centuries during his career.
The popular and talented batsman’s long association with the club is far from over. Asked if he planned to retire from playing again now, Allen smiled and said, “I have got a veterans match to play and if the club are short anytime I will play, but I don’t want to stop other people from playing.”
Allen, who umpires for the Horley first team games, returned to playing this season after a three-year break, after he was made aware that he was just 127 runs short of the 20,000 landmark.
It took him just three appearances for the club’s Sunday Strollers to pass the milestone. He made 57 not out in his first match last month, hit 54 last week and got the 16 runs he needed on Sunday, striking a four to pass the 20,000, and being greeted with a standing ovation from the Horley players and club members who had come to the game in the hope of watching Allen make his own little bit of history.
He batted on to make 30 before being caught out, but Horley went on to win against Jamaica Inn Pirates.
Allen, aged 55, was delighted and probably a bit relieved to pass the landmark after falling just short last week. He has been involved with Horley Cricket Club for as long as he can remember. “My parents first brought me down here when I was a baby,” he said. He recalls that his first appearance was as a substitute fielder in 1975, but he didn’t score his first runs for the club until 1978 and he has played for all the Horley senior teams, scoring a total of 26 centuries during his career.
The popular and talented batsman’s long association with the club is far from over. Asked if he planned to retire from playing again now, Allen smiled and said, “I have got a veterans match to play and if the club are short anytime I will play, but I don’t want to stop other people from playing.”
