by Craig Tucker

Dan Parker blasted a sensational club record score of 243 not out for Upchurch 2nds on Sunday - but he wasn't even due to play.

Parker, 21, only turned out for the Kent Village League Division 7 game against New Ifield because dad Steve, who captains the side, was a man short.

He scored his runs off just 143 balls and hit 29 fours and three sixes as Upchurch crushed their opponents by 136 runs.

Parker, a top-order bat for Upchurch's Kent League side, said: "I only played because somebody dropped out the night before.

"Dad asked me if I'd help him out so I agreed to play. I guess I was seeing the ball pretty well.

"My first hundred came off 20 overs and I was going to retire at 150 but everybody said I should carry on.

"I'm glad I did now because the chance to hit a double-hundred is a once-in-a-lifetime thing - I doubt it'll happen again.

"I'm a player who likes to get a move on but I made the runs through playing proper cricket shots, which pleased me.

"The bowlers did OK at the start but they grew pretty demoralised.

"My previous best was something like 130 so I've beaten that by quite a bit.

"Hopefully this will give me confidence to take into the Kent League and I'll be able to score lots of runs for the 1sts."

Parker's heroics helped Upchurch to a 40-over total of 315-4, with New Ifield restricted to 179-3.

Upchurch chairman Jerry Overbury said: "It's a phenomenal achievement to hit 243 out of a total of 315."

Are you impressed by Parker's feat? Have your say below.