DURING the past couple of weeks, wearing my cricketing anorak, I have been working out which players have, over the years, been the Bolton League's most prolific century-makers writes Peter Stafford

The job isn't yet complete, but already some quite amazing statistics are beginning to emerge, all of which prove beyond doubt that, as I pointed out in my first article of the summer, we are living in a kind of Golden Age of batsmanship.

In the 1945 season, for instance, not a single century was recorded. Fifty years on, in 1995, the League's batsmen hit 46. Even more extraordinary, during the first 20 years of the League's existence, 65 centuries were hit.

In the last 20 years, between 1984 and 2003, the League's bowlers have had to toil away, while a staggering 554 hundreds have been amassed!

I have still to complete the table showing the leading batsmen responsible, but, as they say, watch this space.

One remarkable century was hit at Tonge last Saturday during the 2nd XI game against Westhoughton. Adam Rodzoch, who is

currently serving in the Royal Marines, arrived home unexpectedly on leave, too late for inclusion in the first team, but a late withdrawal from the second team allowed him to play.

His 157 out of 262-8 included 18 fours and seven sixes, and he then went on to take three Westhoughton wickets with his wrist-spin.

Adam is putting his cricket ability to good use in the Marines. Already he has played in South Africa with a fair amount of success, and soon he is due to visit the West Indies as a member of a services cricket team.

Another batting feat was completed last weekend when Heaton's Paul Rayment became the 16th Bolton League batsman to go through the 10,000-run barrier.

I mention it here because I'm sure that Paul is far too modest a person to shout it from the rooftops on his excellent and comprehensive website, www.boltoncricket.co.uk.

That he has achieved it in just over 13 seasons is, in itself, a tribute to the sheer batting consistency he has contributed to the five clubs for whom he has played, be it as professional or amateur.

Last Saturday I was at The Tyldesleys to see Westhoughton increase their lead at the top of the table by three points, before a final shower of rain ended the game against Tonge.

Ian Pilkington continued his excellent recent form with 49, boosting his total to 279 in his last four innings, while Antonio Mayers took advantage of leg-spinner Kevin Bath's problems with the wet ball to add another 48.

When Tonge replied, Adil Nisar sparkled briefly with a series of cuts and drives that stopped Mayers in his tracks, but when he went, closely followed by Nigel Partington, brilliantly caught behind first ball by a diving Paul Atherton, the ensuing rain left both teams sharing 18 points and wondering what might have been.

If Pilkington is in good form, however, what can one say about that of Gary Garner, who has now accumulated 578 runs at an average of 115 in the eight innings played between June 12 and July 11.

In Sunday's MEN Interleague game against the Ribblesdale League at Clitheroe he led the victory charge superbly with a chanceless and unbeaten 93, while his Longworth Road colleagues Iqbal Patel and the ageless Ian Taylor between them took 6 for 76.

The Egerton connection was further emphasised by Paul Stafford, who had given the home side the kind of start they would have craved, and Stuart Hornby, who was by far and away the Ribblesdale League's most threatening bowler, albeit in a lost cause.

The game's other star performer was Greenmount's Andy Bowker who, pulled into the side at the last minute to replace the injured Jon Fearick.

He hit as accomplished a 57 as you could wish for on his Interleague debut, played his part perfectly in the match-winning partnership of 152 with Garner and, not to put too fine a point on it, provided the League selectors with what could be a giant sized headache when they sit down to pick the side for the final!