York Senior League: Batsman regrets declaration with world record score looming

The second team captain cleared the ropes 12 times and hit 31 boundaries in a remarkable knock of 265 not out against Easingwold.

However, his decision to declare in the 35th over, with rain forecast and his team on 345-0, cost him a shot at breaking Liam Livingstone’s world record of 350 set last month.

“It really hasn’t sunk in,” said the batsman, whose previous high score was 158.

“Looking back, (declaring) was a stupid move. My thought was for the team to try and bowl them out.

“It was only after I came off that someone said about the guy from Lancashire. I probably should have carried on to try and top that.”

Ben Bartlett partnered him for the duration of the innings, scoring 62no.

The match was only Hawskwell’s second as captain after being moved down from the club’s first team for the new season.

Hawkswell, who followed his explosive innings by completing the gruelling Tour de Yorkshire sportive on Sunday, added: “I have been dropped this year, so I thought, sod it, let’s get some runs and prove people wrong.”