Howzat! Cephas Zhuwao's record-breaking 254 powers Barton CC to victory

It was always likely to be a matter of when, rather than if. And when it happened at the weekend, it was certainly on a grand scale.
Barton CC’s Zimbabwean all-rounder Cephas Zhuwao had launched into Devon Cricket League ‘B’ Division attacks with entertaining but mostly short-lived assaults.
He’d hit a couple of half-centuries as former Premier champions Barton made an underwhelming start to the summer after their unexpected relegation last year.
But short and sweet seldom does the trick in cricket. Barton needed something bigger and longer from their 38-year-old left-hander.
And then they went to Westward Ho! on Saturday to meet a Bideford side intent on recording a fourth successive victory.
Seventeen-year-old Finley Last, a serious prospect in his own right, will never forget the day when his innings of 74 was dwarfed by Zhuwao’s 254 at the other end.
The statistics are worth repeating.
Zhuwao hit 20 fours and 24 sixes - a total of 224 in boundaries - in a knock of just 129 balls, he and Last sharing a new club record third-wicket stand of 231 in a total of 417-5 (45 overs).
Zhuwao’s innings was the third highest individual score in Devon League history.
It’s actually worth sparing a thought for James Hayter, who replied with a slightly more sedate 111 not out as Bideford lost by 165 runs.
The result lifted Barton up to fifth place in the table, 25 points behind early leaders Bridestowe, still with plenty of the season to go.
Nothing that Zhuwao does over the rest of the summer is likely to match or even approach what he did in north Devon at the weekend - though it might just be worth arriving at Bovey Tracey’s Recreation Ground in good time this Saturday.
But his big job now is to lead Barton back to the ‘A’ Division over the rest of this season. Not to would surely be a waste...