"SOMETHING else," declared the awed spectator when it was over and done with.

In two words he had captured the moment.

Fireworks, candyfloss stalls and a fly-pass by the Red Arrows would not have seemed out of place.

Ben Johnson approaching, equalling and ultimately breaking the Lancashire League batting record was the central drama and electrifying enough.

But there were enough sub-plots to make this match into a movie.

There was Daryl Holstead's 136 not out, smashing the highest amateur total in a single innings for Colne.

Then he and Johnson combined to establish a record opening partnership, certainly for the club and possibly in League history, of 232. Johnson's century set a new League benchmark of eight in a single season while the South Australian, with his 16th, also equalled the record number of 50s.

There was Nick Moulding running almost 20 yards along the boundary to take a diving catch at knee-height to dismiss Bacup professional Roger Harper who was chipping away at Colne's formidable total.

The cheer that reverberated around The Horsfield and Moulding's impromptu celebration - arms raised aloft as he sprinted deliriously in the direction of the nearby Morris Dancer pub - was the kind of reaction which greets gripping finales at Lord's.

And we had a stunning climax.

Just when it appeared Bacup would taint Colne's historic day with the most unlikely of victories, Ben Johnson - who else? - took a match-winning hat-trick, last achieved by a Colne professional against Church in 1984, the man then being Collis King.

The Man now, though, is Ben Johnson who drew an appropriate tribute from Colne captain Gary Hunt.

"Ben is a model professional whose dedication to his job is inspiring," he said. "He has been a magnificent asset this season to Colne Cricket Club where his earnest approach sets a standard for all.

"Everybody connected with the club is delighted for him that he has broken the league batting record.

"And when you think of the great names who have played Lancashire League cricket, it is an awesome achievement."

Awesome it is but if you had talked to Johnson afterwards you would swear he had just safely negotiated crossing the road.

"My job here is to win cricket matches and this year we have achieved that," he began.

"The batting record is a lovely honour and something that is special to me.

"But life will go on - I'm just happy I've done it for all the people who have been so supportive to me here. "I feel more relief than elation right now.

"From a very strong position we almost lost the match but little things like Nick Moulding's catch kept us on top.

"It's the little things that win cricket matches." It is typical of Johnson that in his moment of glory he was deflecting praise from himself onto others.

But it was justified.

Daryl Holstead completed his century, which included 14 boundaries, in 117 balls and one ball before Johnson broke the batting record.

The total they eventually established of 263, for the loss of only one wicket, seemed impregnable.

But Harper, with seven fours and three sixes, brought Bacup within reach and Terry Lord's 10 fours and a six made it distinctly possible.

But after his earlier heroics, Johnson struck again, dismissing Lord before bowling Ormerod and Warren to complete the saga.

After days like this, you wonder when comes such another.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.