Cleveland County all-rounder Dion Stovell has dedicated his historic batting milestone in the Eastern Counties competition to his club’s supporters and the Harris Bay community.

With a single off Bailey’s Bay left-arm spinner Delray Rawlins in the second innings, the experienced all-rounder became the first Cleveland batter to score 1,000 runs in the popular competition during his team’s 142-run loss to the champions at Lord’s on Saturday.

“It’s a great feeling to achieve this milestone for a great community and great club, and I’m truly blessed to get to 1,000 runs for Cleveland,” Stovell told The Royal Gazette.

“Over the years I feel that I’ve battled so hard for the fans and community, and I dedicate this to them for putting trust in me to represent them, so thank you to the fans.”

While delighted to have achieved the impressive feat, Stovell insists victory matters more to him than personal milestones.

“I look to win cricket games first, so I will take a victory over this milestone any day,” he added.

“For me, Cleveland were just not good enough. Our approach to the game was not at the standards of the opposition.

“We all knew that Bay would be tough and they have a strong team but our standards throughout the whole season have been low.

“Next year we have to make sure our standards pick up to be victorious, so congratulations well deserved to Gus Logie’s team.”

Stovell also hailed the exploits of Bay batter Stephen Outerbridge, who reached the 1,000-run milestone for Bay in the first innings of the match.

“I congratulate Stephen Outerbridge on his great accomplishment; hats off to him,” he said.

Outerbridge, who also serves as club president of Bay, reached the milestone in style by dispatching Cleveland all-rounder Treadwell Gibbons Jr to the extra-cover boundary off the first ball he faced.

“It’s an honour, a milestone,” Outerbridge said.

“I think after I hit that first boundary on the first ball, it really felt good. The pressure was alleviated and I think it’s something that county creates with all the talk and media content. I think it just made the occasion very special.

“I don’t really play for records. I really just wanted to win and to get the win outright was always my main objective, so just congratulations to all the Bay players.

“I thought it was a fantastic event and I am looking forward to the next game against St David’s. Hopefully I can add a few more runs to my total if selected.

“I am just really happy with the progression of Bay from when I started to where it looks like it’s going to be ending as far as my career, but I know Bay have still got a few levels that they have to go to.”

Holders Bay will next defend their title against St David’s at Lord’s on August 17.

Outerbridge and Stovell are the sixth and seventh batters to score 1,000 runs in the competition.

Former Bay captain Noel Gibbons was the first to achieve the milestone in 1983, followed by team-mates Charlie Marshall and Ricky Hill, and St David’s pair Allen Richardson and Albert Steede.

St David’s stalwart OJ Pitcher is nearing 1,000 runs, as he has 962 runs under his belt. Marshall is the only batter to score 2,000 runs in the competition.