BRADING Cricket Club stalwart Lee Hailes has become part of Isle of Wight cricketing folklore by scoring his one hundredth century in the senior game.

The 45 year old, of Ratcliffe Avenue, Ryde, wrote himself into Island cricketing history by hitting 168 not out in a friendly against touring Wiltshire side, White Horse, at Brading’s Middlemead ground on Sunday last week.

Isle of Wight County Press:

A leg glance for four brought up his ton and, to mark the occasion, a celebratory pint was brought out onto the square to an ovation from team-mates, spectators and White Horse players.

As a nice touch, the visitors also provided a guard of honour for Lee as he left the pitch.

Lee, a meter reader, made it a great family occasion that day by playing the match alongside his eight-year-old son, Ian, and nephew, Jordan Kent.

Isle of Wight County Press:

“It was a great moment. Sunday was a very special day,” said Lee.

“Records are something I don’t think too much about, but I suppose I will reflect more on it when I retire.”

Rewind to when he was aged 11, Lee, watched by his mum and grandfather, Vic Hailes, scored his first hundred (112 not out) when playing for an Isle of Wight schools under-12 side against Ryde School U13s on July 21, 1984 — a special date etched in his memory.

It proved to be a great inspiration for Lee, who, with Brading Cricket Club’s seconds, scored his first senior ton against Parkhurst at Medina High School — 105 not out.

Isle of Wight County Press:

County Press scorecard showing Lee's first senior ton for Brading II on June 18, 1988.

After a full season in Brading’s first team, Lee and another Island talent, Mark Garaway, played for Waterlooville in the Southern League, where he really honed his batting skills for six seasons.

In his debut year for them in 1989, ‘Bomber’ as he was known, was league’s second-highest under-21 run scorer and, in one season with them alone, amassed 14 centuries, which included some while guesting for Brading and Ryde cricket clubs.

Lee came up just short of his highest-ever score, 177, against Godshill, several years ago.

Over his 34 years as a player, Lee has so far amassed around 65,000 runs and joins an elite group to reach the one hundred hundreds landmark.

IW Cricket Board chairman Phil Mew paid tribute to Lee by saying: “What a great achievement for him. He has always been a phenomenal flair player — a class act — and a lovely bloke to go with it.”