WHEN enthusiastic young cricketer Josh Bateson bagged a hat-trick of run outs with his accurate fielding little did he realise the enormity of his achievement.

The devastating accuracy of young Josh's arm led to a procession of Old Leos batsmen trudging back to the pavilion and now it has led to a procession of cricket experts searching the record books.

Josh was playing for Horsforth Cricket Club's Under-11 side in an Airedale Junior League game at Old Leos.

His deadly accuracy saw him run out a Leos batsman with a direct hit. Eyebrows started to be raised when he repeated the feat off the next ball and team manager Phil Lines and the watching spectators could hardly believe their eyes when the Cookridge youngster made it a hat-trick of direct hits off the next ball to send a third Leos batsman packing.

Phil said: "I have never seen anything like it before. He ran out two at one end and then repeated the effort at the other end. They were all direct hits, it was absolutely amazing. We could not believe what was going on."

In all, four Leos batsmen were run out with direct hits for Phil's son Oliver decided to get in on the act.

Horsforth Cricket Club Secretary Andrew Bentley, a long serving player in the Airedale and Wharfedale League with Horsforth, said: "I have never heard of anything similar happening in my time in cricket. It is a very unusual feat and it has caused quite a stir."

Airedale and Wharfedale League secretary Howard Clayton, a long time cricket official and scorer, also confirmed that he had never come across such a feat before.

"I have been scoring and administrating in cricket for over 40 years and I have never seen it happen or heard of it happening before. It must be a record of some kind. Fielding certainly wins matches and let's hope Josh goes on to further his cricket at higher levels."

We are trying to check out with cricket statisticians and archivists if it has ever happened before.

Have you ever heard of such a feat? If you have let us know by ringing our Sports Editor Rachel O'Connor at Wharfedale Newspapers on 01943 607022.