Big hitters' pro blow IT was a bitter-sweet weekend for Greenmount Cricket Club who heard they could lose their professional. . . and then smashed a number of Bolton League batting records.

Paid man Saeed Anwar has been called into a 33-man training camp in Lahore being brought together to select a Pakistan A Test squad to tour Kenya in July.

The call-up has come completely out of the blue and is a real sickener for the village club who were looking to launch a determined assault on the Bolton League championship this summer.

But they haven't given up hope of keeping the 22-year-old in the country for the duration of the summer and have contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board explaining their position.

And instead of sulking about the news the villagers hit back the best way possible by becoming the first Bolton League club ever to top the 400-run mark when they demolished the Farnworth attack in Sunday's Hamer Cup first round tie at Brandlesholme Road.

An amazing 409 for 4 was plundered against their luckless opponents with the highlight an opening partnership of 305 between overseas amateur Mick O'Rourke and professional Anwar that broke a handful of records.

O'Rourke finished on a magnificent 181 while Anwar blasted his way to 143. Their partnership easily beat the previous highest of 272 set by Rod Bower and Rod Tucker back in 1984, ironically, for Farnworth.

The visitors really could have done with them in their ranks again as they slipped to 92 for 3 from 17 overs in reply before the rain came with Anwar showing his prowess with the ball taking 3 for 30 from eight overs.

The match, like others that did not finish on Sunday because of rain interruptions, was scheduled to continue last night.

O'Rourke's knock smashed the previous highest score for a Greenmount batsman held by fellow Aussie Richard Chee Quee with 178 v Walkden in 1994.

Each of the Greenmount batsmen who took to the field managed a six with the parting shot a superb innings by Jimmy Horrox who hit a whirlwind 56 not out from 26 balls - the fastest half century of the season.

Meanwhile off-the-field plans are under way to address the problem regarding the professional.

"We have spoken to the PCB and explained the situation that Saeed is under contract to Greenmount Cricket Club and at this moment in time we won't be releasing him from that contract," cricket chairman Tony Hayes told the Bury Times yesterday.

"They are well aware that he is under contract to us for the whole season because they signed the form for the Overseas Labour Service so it's disappointing that this should happen.

"The PCB haven't got a contract with Saeed, we have, and we'll just have to see what they have to say in reply to our correspondence."

If Anwar does go back to Pakistan the club would have no alternative than to terminate his contract as league rules clearly state that every club must field a professional.

The league committee could also fine Greenmount for injury is deemed the only acceptable reason a professional can miss games during a season.

Rivals Kearsley are in a similar situation to the Brandlesholme Road club as their paid man Fazl-e-Aktar has also received notification of the training camp.