THE cricket season is far from over, but for one cricketer from Falmouth it is not one that he is likely to forget in a hurry, writes Leon Prynn. 

Jacob Stephens, who opens the batting for Falmouth 2nd XI in the Cornwall Cricket League division three (West), has written himself into the record books with an amazing sequence of innings.

In a remarkable run, Jacob, who is 35, carried his bat through three successive league matches amassing 207 runs in the process.

At present no-one is absolutely sure where it stands in the pantheon of club records, but the feeling around the Hine Downing Oval - and in the opinion of secretary Greg Stephens - is that no player has previously managed to achieve carrying his bat for the club in three successive matches.

David Toseland, club president and one of Cornwall’s most capped players, said: “Jacob has pulled off an incredible feat by batting through three successive innings. It’s quite an achievement by any standard.”

Jacob began his record-breaking spree when he hit 52 not out in a total of 169 against Truro 2nd XI after facing 131 balls and cracking eight fours.

Camborne 2nd XI were next in line to feel the full force of Jacob’s batting after hitting 10 fours in a knock of 76 not out in a total of 240.

Bowlers must have been getting fed up with seeing his face at the crease after he notched a hat-trick of innings against St Just after hitting 79 not out and hammering 10 fours to the boundary in his side’s total of 172.

Last Saturday’s game against Gulval must have been a bit of a disappointment for free-scoring Jacob because he was dismissed after making another creditable 59 against against a side who sit in second place in the league.

Jacob’s father, Paul, a distinguished batsman during his career at Falmouth, said it is always nice if your son or daughter does well: “I am very pleased for him because sport can be cruel as well as being wonderful. He is very passionate about his sport whether it is cricket or rugby, but whenever he does well he is very modest about it.”

Setting records appears to be a family trait, with Paul twice carrying his bat when playing for the 2nd XI and scoring 166 not out against Truro and 100 not out against St Just.

Although he was delighted to go through three matches not out, Jacob was more concerned with what the team achieved. “I have had a good season so far and I’m delighted with my batting, but it’s not about individuals it’s about how well the team does. That’s the way I have been brought up to play the game – it’s always about the team.

“Morale is good and we have a great team spirit which is important. The cricket season is quite short and with the weather being unpredictable you have to make the most of it and enjoy it out in the middle.”

Jacob’s ambition is to emulate his father Paul: “Every time I go out to bat I want to accumulate runs and bat through the innings because I know we have big hitters to come if I can stay there. My ambition is to eventually score a century and hopefully, one day, that will come.”