MARK Bolton has lavished praise on record breaking batsman David Pearson after the East Lancashire star put a double entry into the history books over a memorable weekend.

The veteran batsman became only the third man in Lancashire League history to pass 14,000 league runs when he made 100 for the Blackburn side against Enfield on Saturday.

And just 24 hours later, Pearson made a career and club best of 139 as East Lancs were victorious against Nelson at Seedhill.

If those two performances aren’t enough, Pearson, 47, is closing in on Ray Kelly’s long-standing wicket-keeping record of 571 victims.

And captain Bolton is more than made up with his Mr Reliable opener.

“It is some achievement,” smiled the Alexandra Meadows captain. “If you score successive hundreds in successive days on Blackpool beach you can be proud of that so to do it in the Lancashire League really is remarkable.

“And when you think that David keeps wicket as well you can’t praise the guy enough.

“Sometimes in the past people have levelled the criticism at David that he can be a little bit pedestrian when batting but that is not the case now and on Sunday he scored at a run a ball and helped us win both games.

“I think the arrival of Mini Bhada as an opener has given David a new lease of life.

“Mini scores quickly and races between the wickets and David is also playing with freedom now.

“After all these years he is still going out there and scoring runs and that is a great tribute to what the guy is about.

“He has been and still is a top Lancashire League player and really is one of the best there has been over the last 30 years or so.”

Pearson’s ton against Enfield saw him help East Lancs to their match-winning 221-7.

That took him past the landmark 14,000 run mark – and then on Sunday he etched his name further into the record books with his career best 139. That was also the highest score by an East Lancashire amateur batsman in a league match and Bolton enthused: “It is great for David to move into the record books.

“I don’t know how he does it. He keeps on coming back though and keeps on scoring runs.

“Maybe he spends all of the next day in the bath – but as long as it keeps on working, so be it.”

However, the captain insists Pearson owes him a pint and laughed: “He missed me out of his round after the game on Saturday.

“He will have to put that right – but the way he is playing, I don’t think I will have to wait too long for the next one.”

David Pearson - East Lancashire
Born: April 16, 1963
East Lancs debut: 1982
Highest score: 139 v Nelson (away) 2010.