FORMER Premier League cricketer Tommy Barton and his Ryde Cavaliers team-mates have re-written the Hampshire League records following an astonishing run blitz against Portchester 3rd XI.

Barton, man-of-the-match for Lymington in the 2009 Southern Electric T20 Cup final against Ventnor under the Ageas Bowl floodlights, smashed a treble century as Cavaliers ran up an enormous 518-2 in 42 overs at the Smallbrook Stadium.

Barton blazed 331 not out and Chris Higgins an unbeaten 107 before an ageing, ten-man Portchester were dismissed for 97 in reply.

Ryde won the Regional Division 4 South East match by 421 runs.

Barton, who would hold down a top six batting spot in most local Premier League teams, hit 34 sixes (and 19 fours) – 16 of them off veteran John Buckle, one of three Portchester bowlers to concede 100 or more runs.

Twice he hit five sixes in an over and almost caused the game to be abandoned due to lost balls.

Barton later took 2-12 and a catch.

Ryde Cavaliers’ opponents in Regional Division 4 SE include Sarisbury Athletic’s fifth and sixth teams, four 4th XIs and a handful of third teams.