MALCOLM Lake rewrote the Southern Premier League record books on his way to spearheading Lymington’s crushing 147-run victory over top-flight rivals New Milton.

The 22-year-old Zimbabwean hit an undefeated 171 – the highest score on debut in the history of the competition – as Lymington piled up 302 for four at Fernhill Sports Ground.

His explosive exploits came after he had been involved in a run-out off the first ball of the Lymington innings, with luckless Ryan Scott the victim.

Lake, who was part of the Zimbabwe squad at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, set about the Milton attack, his 150-ball knock including 19 fours and four sixes.

After Richie Lock had also gone cheaply, Lake and Oxford MCCU team-mate Ed Ellis (46) put on 129 for the third wicket as Lymington moved on to 146 for three.

And he then shared an unbeaten 147 for the fifth wicket with skipper Simon Beetham (57), with George Watts (1-42) the pick of the Milton bowlers.

Not content with opening the batting, Lake was then handed the new ball – and promptly helped reduce the hosts to 20 for four.

Lake (3-9) removed three of the Milton top four – Tom Arnold, Dave Wakefield and James Haggaty – before Ollie Shrubsole and Matt Freeman (20) steadied the ship by putting on 55 for the fifth wicket.

However, while Shrubsole (67) showed defiance and also shared 43 for the eighth wicket with Watts, Milton were eventually dismissed for 155 (Beetham 2-24, Cameron Robertson 2-34).