MODEST Pieter Malan admitted that he never even thought about breaking records as he hit what is believed to be the highest score ever recorded in Twenty20 cricket.

Ramsbottom’s 22-year-old South African professional hit an astonishing 165 not out in the Moor Houses Lancashire League T20 match with Rawtenstall at Acre Bottom, beating the 158 not out made by Brendan McCullum in the Indian Premier League in 2007, the 157 not out hit by Read’s Mohammed Jamal in the Ribblesdale League’s competition last season and Graeme Napier’s 152 for Sussex four years ago.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Malan, who followed the Twenty20 feat with 110 in the Foster’s Lancashire League defeat to East Lancashire yesterday.

“I never went out with the intention of trying to break a record, you can’t do that.

“You just have to play each ball.

“But it came off for me and I think the only people who didn’t enjoy it were the Rawtenstall fielders, they didn’t have a good time.”

Malan smashed 14 sixes and 13 fours in his innings and faced just 72 balls as he re-wrote the record books and added: “There was a short boundary so that obviously helped me.

“But the main thing is for the team to win a game and I was just happy to play my part in a win - and if my innings gets more people through the gates in future games that is good for all the clubs.”