CRICKET umpire Eric Hogg could not help but admire another six-hit from century maker Greg Dimery -- until the ball crashed through the back window of his car.

Eric was standing at square leg in Atherton's Cross Cup game with Little Hulton as Dimery launched a batting assault on the visiting bowlers.

He said: "I remember smiling as he gave this particular delivery a mighty heave-ho, but then realised where the ball was headed.

"It was just one of those things. Quite funny really, especially when Greg asked whose car it was and I just replied: 'Mine'."

Australian Dimery came within an ace of equalling the highest score in a Cross Cup game in his innings of 165 -- a record that was set in 1938 by the late Tom Boardman, who was also member at Atherton.

"Greg's was a great innings though,"acknowledged Eric, who lives in Westhoughton. "I jokingly asked him afterwards where should I send the bill for the damage. He told me: 'Perth, Western Australia'."

For the record the big hitting Aussie hit his 165 off 147 balls, the last 65 runs coming off only 25 balls. The total innings included three sixes, 19 fours -- and a smashed car window.