BOURNEMOUTH’S Chris Ridley is hoping his mammoth century will help him reclaim his first-team place and stake a claim for a county call.

The 20-year-old smashed an unbeaten 172 off just 137 deliveries as the reigning Sunday Division One champions thumped a depleted Kingston Lacy.

His knock, which included 14 fours and three sixes, fell narrowly short of the best individual top-flight score recorded since 1997, with Stuart Hand’s 187 out in front.

But together with opening partner Jake Hurley (129* off 132 balls), Ridley helped Bournemouth post a remarkable 321 without loss after being put into bat.

Now the Southampton University student, who is sponsored by Holt & Haskell and Chase Sport, is keen to build on his recent effort and establish himself as a batting wicketkeeper in the club’s premier Saturday side.

He told the Echo: “I was first team wicketkeeper last year and played in the Twenty20 team that won the nationals.

“I was batting down at nine or 10 and was named wicketkeeper of the year in the gold league.

“The aim this season is just to try to keep the second team in the silver league. It’s quite a competitive league.

“On a slightly more individual note, it is to try to improve my batting. At the moment, I’m down in the seconds because the firsts signed a wicketkeeper-batsman. I said I would drop down in order to get a bat and keep wicket.

“I want to try to get runs in the Southern League to show I’m more of a batsman, as well as a keeper. I’d like to get a call-up for Dorset – I made my Minor Counties debut last year – and also do well for Dorset under-21s.”

Ridley’s form took a huge turn for the better against Lacy on Sunday.

With the opposition’s line-up hit by call-ups to Bournemouth’s Twenty20 team and the Wimborne Twenty20 tournament, Ridley made the most of his opportunity.

However, he revealed that his knock owed much to team-mate Tom Wilkinson, who was |forced to watch from the sidelines after dropping down to number three.

“Originally I was batting at three and both openers said they were not batting at one because they didn’t want to face the first ball,” explained Ridley.

“Tom Wilkinson went down to three and never got a bat!”

He added: “Once I got to 50, I saw the ball a bit better and hit a few off the middle. At the start of the innings, I was not hitting it well. It’s good because hopefully on Saturday I can have a better knock because I had been a bit out of touch.”

The resounding 192-run victory was completed when Lacy were restricted to just 129 for seven.

Tom Ackland, who at 22 was the oldest player in the Bournemouth side, claimed four for 43, with Greg Thew taking two for 23.

Lacy’s Chris Spry produced a resilient innings of 23 not out from 94 deliveries.

• Kieran Price produced a sensational all-round display to continue his good form for Parley in the Sunday League.

Price took centre stage with both bat and ball as last year’s runners-up signalled their intent with a 102-run win over Henstridge.

Batting first, they posted a healthy 275 for eight, an innings built largely around Price’s fine knock.

He wasted little time in hitting 125, requiring just 77 deliveries to bring up his century and 89 balls in total.

Sam Reece (76) was another fine performer as his half-century came in 49 deliveries.

Matt Stickland (38) then joined Price to help out, before the centurion was eventually toppled with just two balls remaining in the innings.

In reply, Henstridge were dismissed for 175 in the 34th over. Steve Lawson (37 off 22 balls) was their top scorer, but Price was not to be denied and continued his good day by claiming three for four.

The other wickets fell to captain Stickland (2-39) and Neil Summerson (3-67).

Elsewhere in the top division, Cranborne enjoyed a six-wicket win over Swanage.

Having restricted Swanage to 115 for eight, they got home with plenty to spare.

Ferndown Wayfarers (178) continued their promising start to the season with a four-run success against St Georges (174-8).