SIR Viv Richards has inspired many generations of West Indian cricketers and sportsmen down the years, including one Kendal resident who was born to score runs.

Legendary status is often banded about in the modern game but Terry Hunte is part of the Shap Road furniture and on Saturday reached a milestone that is unlikely to be matched.

The talismanic batsman was left stranded at the crease seven days earlier, unbeaten on 39, as Kendal skittled out Lancaster for just 66 at Lune Road.

So the scene was set for the man who has 558 runs and six half-centuries to his name this summer – a derby clash against Netherfield on his own turf, and he did not disappoint.

With a lofted drive to the long-off boundary, the talismanic batsman wrote himself into the history books by reaching 20,000 Northern League runs.

And while blown away by hitting such heights, the run-machine felt a tinge of frustration his side could not round off his day by securing local bragging rights.

“It’s a great achievement and never did I think I would score this many runs when I started here 20-odd years ago,” he said.

“It was a proud moment and great to get the final few runs at my home ground, although it would have been nice to round things off with a win but these things happen.

“I was very pleased as it’s certainly something special to get this amount of runs, I was very emotional for some reason, I don’t know why but I was.

“It’s been a privilege to be part of this club and I’ve played with and against some very good cricketers and the runs top it all off.”

The 51-year-old’s love affair with Kendal Cricket Club started way back in the eighties, joining the Shap Road ranks as the side’s professional in 1986.

The much-decorated batsman has been involved in some epic encounters down the years while wearing the club’s colours, all of which he recalls with great fondness.

But having dished out plenty of sleepless nights to bowlers during this period, there was one encounter he remembers where the tables were turned.

“There have been some great occasions here, one which stands out is when I scored a century against Chorley when we won the cup,” he added.

“There have been a lot of good professionals in this league who have been tough to face, Callum Ferguson springs to mind and I’ve also faced some tremendous bowlers back home.

“As well as Gordon Greenidge, one of the toughest bowlers I ever batted against was Malcolm Marshall, who was playing for Leyland at the time.

“I faced him here at Shap Road on a green wicket and it wasn’t easy batting against him, I only got eight before he got me.”

“But we did bowl them out for about 30 to win the game!”

Born in Saint Philip, Barbados, Hunte has cricket coursing through his veins and has held willow in hand for most of his life.

He went on to make 13 first-class appearances for Barbados over a four-year period, debuting against Jamaica in 1984, and four List A matches, with a century to his name versus Guyana.

International recognition followed as Hunte represented West Indies Under-23s against a touring New Zealand in 1985, a game in which he posted 69.

And by witnessing a golden era for West Indies cricket, the right-hander points to possibly the most feared and destructive batsman in the history of the game as a major influence.

“I was like all young lads growing up in the Caribbean watching Test Matches, I wanted to emulate those stars,” he added.

“Kids played cricket on the street and wanted to be their heroes and I was no different, that’s how it started for me.

“My favourite was Viv Richards. I always loved watching him bat and I learned a few things from him.

“Some people used to say I copied Viv when I was young and batted a bit like him.”

When Hunte first came to this country, Nelson was the destination for a spell of Lancashire League cricket, before heading to Farnworth in the Bolton League.

A long and distinguished career has followed on these shores, something which is not about to be consigned to the past any time soon.

Despite being in his fifties, Hunte – who scored 82 for Cumberland against Sussex in the 1999 NatWest Trophy – is not ready to make life easy for the league’s batsmen just yet.

“It’s one thing getting this many runs but just to be playing the game still is pleasing,” he said.

“And I think it’s the enjoyment which cricket gives me that allows me to keep going, if I wasn’t enjoying it I would have called it quits long ago.

“I first came over here to get accustomed to English conditions and stayed, I’ve been here ever since.

“I will carry on and keep going, a lot depends on how my knees hold up but I’ll certainly play as long as I can.”