BIG hitting Leon Botha has proved the scourge of Worcestershire League bowlers during a run-packed first half of the season, writes Mervyn Collins.

The popular Springbok, returning to the club he served so well three summers ago, is just a couple of hundred runs short of breaking the Division One aggregate record and he is confident of achieving it - soon.

"I don't think 804 runs will be enough," he nonchalantly predicted, eyeing the record set by Kington's overseas player last season.

"I should break the record quite easily but I don't want to count my chickens although I will be disappointed if I don't get more".

The 24-year-old who plays Provincial B cricket back in Johannesburg for Easterns, scored 778 runs on his first visit to England in 1999.

After one season at The Bottoms, Botha stayed at home to study for a Business Management degree but, when the chance came to return to Pershore, he had no hesitation in packing his bags and bats!

"The record is important to both myself and the club but I really want to get to 1,000 runs," he added. "If the weather holds then more shouldn't be a problem,"

Botha's boundary-laden knocks aren't all about brute force and "slogging".

"I've adapted better to the wickets this time around. I don't intentionally go out there to blast the first ball for six. I get stuck in and get set, " he said.

"I will take a look at the bowling first but if there's a chance then I will take it. It's controlled hitting."

That attitude was aptly summed up on Sunday when he pulled a first delivery full toss over the ropes before adding half a dozen boundaries as he got Pershore's reply off to a flashing start against Bromsgrove.

However, once he perished, 200 runs were still needed and achieved.

"It's certainly not been a one man show and the other guys have all chipped in," he added.

"There's a lovely team spirit in the side and some good young players.

Botha recalled that he has seen an improvement in the likes of Liam Ridings and Luke Dalley since his first visit and he rates them "very highly".

It's not only hooking on the cricket pitch that Botha likes to get stuck in to - he plays hooker for his local rugby club.

Botha's is a cricketing family, though, with two brothers having made their marks in the Grade game and younger brother Arno hoping to break through to the South African Under-19 squad.

Botha, himself, says hopes of an international call are slim: "I don't think I will ever play for my country but if I continue in the same vein of form over here then selectors for the Super Seven one-day games will take note," he said.

As for the present, Botha has three aims in mind. To break the league record, top 1,000 runs and help Pershore gain promotion.

The latter is the toughest task with Old Elizabethans well clear at the top but two out of three won't be bad for a man with a Meat Loaf frame and an appetite to go with it!