Keith Wainwright helped rewrite the record books with his double century on Sunday against Social Club. ..and now the 37-year-old Southampton Rangers opener is hoping he hasn't been written off by Somerset's Cup Match selectors.

Wainwright batted throughout the Rangers innings for a record 225 not out which propelled Rangers to a Premier League record 475-3. The opening partnership of 352 between Wainwright and Olin Jones beat the previous two best Premier Division opening stands set by Western Stars.

In 1997 Albert Steede and Treadwell Gibbons shared in a stand of 263 against St. David's and two years earlier batted even longer against Social Club when the same two batsmen added 286.

On both those occasions, as with Rangers on Sunday, Stars were sent in to bat after losing the toss. For all their toil Social Club could only manage 34 in reply which was worse than the previous season low of 49 they managed the day before against Stars in the Central Counties.

"It was too easy,'' admitted Wainwright yesterday.

"The best thing I got out of it, and it's one of the things Clevie (player-coach Clevie Wade) taught the guys, is I only gave one chance, on 94, and for the rest of the game I got batting practice, basically. When I hit a six it was way outside (the ground) and when I hit a four it was the right sort of shot.'' The double century beat Wainwright's previous high of 131 against Somerset last year and surpassed the 127 Flatts' Phillip Burgess stroked against St.

David's earlier this season.

And though the Social Club bowling is probably the weakest in the league, the massive total still gave Wainwright some satisfaction.

"Their bowling was very loose from beginning to end but we said to ourselves if we're that good and trying to defend our (league) title then let's beat these guys to the max,'' said the veteran batsman.

"That's what our approach was, especially after losing in the Camel Cup final the week before, which was very disheartening. Their opening bowler (Karl) Furbert bowled 10 overs for 55 and he stood out in my mind as a bowler who bowled pretty good.

"Early on the wicket was wet and the ball wasn't coming onto the bat. It got easier after I made my first 100 and the other 125 was a piece of cake.'' A double century was the furthest thing from Wainwright's mind when his innings began.

"I wanted a century, like most people do, and after I got it -- with Phillip Burgess having the highest score -- I zeroed in on that. One I was there and with all those overs left, I thought `let me see if I can get a double here'.

"I buckled right back down again and when I got 150 I started off from zero again, taking my time. We were ahead of the run rate and between 150 and 225 we ran so many singles. We were looking to score on every ball.'' Wainwright, who scored 80 and 48 in the Camel Cup the previous weekend, knows it is against the top teams that he must score consistently if he is to be considered for Cup Match selection.

"This year I have paid my dues at Somerset and every game I go to the wicket, against Social Club, Stars, everybody, I'm looking for a lot of runs because I need to get the selectors' attention,'' said the opener.

"Yesterday it wasn't one of the stronger teams but I could easily have got a duck. I batted the whole way and didn't get out.'' Wainwright says he is taking his cricket more seriously this season.

"I've done a lot of pre-season running on the beach and that's really made a difference,'' he said.

"I'm finding now I can bat longer and am mentally tuned in whether it be an hour later or whatever.

"We have an excellent programme, everybody's motivated and we know what it takes. We've had one (league) loss already and know we can't afford to lose for the rest of the season and that's why yesterday when it rained between innings we thought `oh, gosh, we can't afford to get washed out'.

"The guys want to defend the title and as a group we didn't take that Camel Cup loss too well. It was like a wake-up call and we have little time to learn from our mistakes.'' Keith Wainwright: Sunday's double century was "too easy.''