NISHIT Shetty has been told to be a record breaker by his chairman.
Accrington chief Rod Kenyon thinks the Indian professional can re-write the clubs record books by breaking Bob Simpson's 1959 record of 1444 league runs.
Shetty is not getting too carried away as he has 927 league runs so far - 1139 in all competitions - and so needs 517 runs in the last nine matches.
Kenyon is confident his pro will do it and Shetty admitted: "I do just want to bat and bat and they keep telling me about the record but I just want to win matches for Accrington.
"I just want to be consistent and do well for the team and we will see what happens."
Accrington are pleased to have snapped up the 34-year-old for next season and Shetty already has high aims for next summer.
"I want to come back as I get on really well with all the lads but some of them just need a bit more confidence but hopefully we will have that for next season. I have heard we might be getting two new batsmen and we just have to be more consistent.
"One of our aims is to do better in the league next season and you never know. When I came, we had finished bottom the season before and my aim was to finish in mid-table this summer - and we are almost there."
Shetty is locked in an intriguing battle with Church's Ruven Peiris for the professional's leading run scorer. Peiris has 879 league runs - 1030 runs altogether - and the Indian respects his opponent: "Ruven is a quality player."
But it is not just Shetty's batting which is impressing. He did chalk up another high score with 70 against local rivals Rishton on Sunday but also took five wickets and made three amazing catches - a good one to dismiss dangerman Peter Sleep and a one-handed leap to deprive John Seedle of any runs.
"I am happy with five wickets. It was important to get Peter Sleep out, the way he was playing. And they were three good catches. I was happy and it is good to win a local derby," added the pro.
It was a big win over Rishton after Shetty and co had made 212 - although they had hoped to make more on a sunny day at Thorneyholme Road.
Rishton paid man Lachlan Stevens took five wickets including the prized one of Shetty as well as Matt Wilson (33) and Graeme Sneddon (31). These three had started well but Accrington's last eight wickets fell for just 42 runs as they couldn't get to the 250-mark.
Rishton, though, struggled in reply with David Ormerod doing the early damage, especially seeing off Australian Stevens for just five. Ormerod finished on 4-70 to make him the league's leading amateur wicket taker with 41 scalps.
However Sleep and John Cordingley looked like they could keep the score ticking along with six an over needed at one point.
Then though Shetty caught and bowled Sleep for 41 to make it 89-6 and Rishton were in deep trouble.
There was a defiant eighth wicket stand from Andrew Bartley (32) and Garth Wyse (21) as the pair put on 36 together but they needed 22 an over from their last four overs and they finally fell 51 runs short - but did deny Accrington the bowling points.
Accrington were the only Hyndburn team to win and they closed the gap on Rishton and Enfield in what is still a tight league. Matt Wilson's side face bottom club Rawtenstall tomorrow.
Enfield welcomed pro Aviro Petersen back from international duty on Sunday but he couldn't steer them to a win over East Lancs.
Petersen made 28 while Adam Bracewell top-scored in their 175 all out. Their bowlers struggled to dislodge East Lancs with Imran Abid finishing with the best figures of 3-75. It meant the one-time bottom club celebrated a six wicket win over the one-time leaders. Enfield will be aiming for a different result when the two clash in the Inter League final at the end of August.
And David Bracewell's side will hope to bounce back against CHURCH tomorrow although Phil Sykes will be hoping his side can get back on track.
The Church's batsmen had a day to forget against league leaders Ramsbottom on Sunday. Their top scorer was Adam Greenwood with 18 as even pro Peiris failed to shine against the bowling of Sunil Joshi. They made just 71 and, although they gave Ramsbottom a fright with Andrew Bentley and Peiris sharing six wickets, Ramsbottom won to open up a 14 point gap at the top of the table after Bacup lost to Lowerhouse.
