In the aftermath of Glen Blakeney's astonishing innings of 303 not out on Sunday, Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) officials still couldn't determine yesterday whether or not the achievement represented a new Bermuda record.

But none of those who spoke to The Royal Gazette, including prolific Cup Match run getter Lloyd James, could recall a higher score in any local game.

When contacted, BCBC president Reggie Pearman admitted no official records existed from which the Board could make comparisons, and he was unsure whether the now defunct Somers Isle Cricket League had compiled records which were now in storage.

Last year, many believed that Blakeney had set a new record when he hammered 245 against Willow Cuts at Lord's, but it was later learned that former St. David's batsman Jeff Pitcher thumped 284 playing for Nationals in the Somers Isle League against Prison Officers in 1986 at Southampton Oval. That was then thought to be the highest individual innings to date by a local batsman in all competitions.

"I scored 284 off 80 balls in 1986 against Prison Officers playing for Nationals and El James was captain," recalled Pitcher yesterday, adding that he had taken a photo in front of the scoreboard alongside Blakeney after Sunday's historic innings against Bailey's Bay at Lord's.

"It was a 50 overs game and we (Nationals) scored 438 and I hit 20 sixes, 32 fours, 18 singles and nine doubles," said Pitcher.

During Sunday's match Blakeney blasted 20 fours and 17 sixes off 193 balls.

Former St. George's Cup Match great James, who made scores of 173 not out (1962) and 157 (1961) in the mid-summer classic, said yesterday that until Sunday no other batsman had ever made it past the 300 mark.

"There have been batsmen who have reached the 200s like Jeff (Pitcher) and Colin Blades, but nobody had ever reached 300 before," insisted James.

In recent memory, former Nationals player Paul Rice, former Devonshire batsman Jason Lewis, Willow Cuts' Gladwin Edness, Southampton's Keith Wainwright and last year Blakeney all reached 200 or more in various competitions.

Meanwhile, Bailey's Bay player Desmond Crockwell yesterday gave his own account of Blakeney's whirlwind knock.

"We were trying to keep him off strike, because he was just hitting the ball all over the boundary. But when he was on strike, he definitely made up for it," said Crockwell.

"A batsman in form is very hard to get out and he just came off Cup Match where he did pretty good and we just weren't up to the challenge of this man.

"He certainly had his mind set that he was going to hit the ball and I did as much running around as everyone else did yesterday."

Similar to his start in Cup Match when he blasted the very first delivery he faced from Corey Hill for six, Blakeney began with a rush against Bay, smashing his first three deliveries to the boundary for fours.

However, his fine innings was not without chances.

"He gave a chance on 17 after he mistimed the ball and skied one up in the air at mid-wicket, but the ball safely dropped between two of our players who were both expecting the other to make the catch," said Crockwell.

"It should have been an easy, routine catch - it was just a lack of communication.

"After that he didn't offer another chance until he got on 112 when the wicketkeeper failed to collect an edge."

The explosive batsman was also dropped on 272, although Crockwell admitted that it was a more difficult chance.

"Other than that, the balls were all flying to the boundary - I think in all he made over 200 runs in boundaries alone, and they were classic strokes. Making 300 runs is incredible!"

Prior to Sunday's mammoth innings, Blakeney had hit three centuries earlier this season while playing for St. David's.

He compiled 165 against Somerset Bridge in the Combined Knockout Cup, 132 against Somerset in the league and 133 against Flatts, also in league play.