Mahesh Patel became the highest ever run-scorer in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League when the Bradford Indians player broke the previous record of 1,010 runs set by Sajid Khan ten years ago.

Patel used to open the innings for Khalsa in the Leeds League with former Pakistan Test batsman Ijaz Ahmed.

And he also used to practice with VVS Laxman, when the current Indian Test star used to play in the Bradford League with Pudsey Congs.

The 33-year-old admitted that watching the two in action up close had helped his game immeasurably.

"Playing with Ijaz was brillant," said Patel.

"He was ranked three in the world and I learned an awful lot from him. He taught me how to build an innings."

Laxman - who first came to worldwide prominence when he scored 281 to help India beat the thought-to-be invincible Australians in 2001 - got to know Patel during his spell in England as he worked with his brother.

"The best way to learn about batting is to watch good batters play," said the opener, who used to bowl to Laxman in the nets.

Patel beat the previous league record with an unbeaten knock of 72 in Bradford Indians' ten-wicket win over Queens Park, putting him on 1,022 runs.

That came after he had set a new Group C record, beating Colin Rice's 949 set in 1991 when he was playing for Bingley Road.

His best innings this season came against Great Horton Meths, when he made a belated appearance in the match as he was at a wedding beforehand.

He arrived to find his side reeling at 40 for seven but quickly put his pads on and proceeded to make 120 to lift his side's total to above 200.

He is only the second batsman in the league to reach the magical mark.

Patel - who is in his second spell with Bradford Indians having made 800 runs for them way back in 1993 - has been making bowlers toil ever since he won an under-15 League batting prize, scoring 700 runs for Bolton Villas.

He had thoughts of playing cricket for a living at one stage, but went to Bradford University to study maths and is now a teacher at Immanuel College in Thackley.

His amateur career has seen him plunder runs on a regular basis in different local leagues. He won the league and cup with Khalsa and had a spell as captain of Windhill in the Bradford League.

But he has never passed the four-figure mark before.

"This is definitely the most successful year I've had. I got off to a good start even when the wickets were damp and that really helped me."