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Veteran cricketer hits 150th ton

00:00, 23 August 2001

updated: 07:12, 29 August 2001

FOR a cricketer to score a hundred is a great achievement - but to notch up 150 tons in your career is something else.

That's what Keith Wooding accomplished when he passed 100 again at the weekend playing for Gravesend against Folkestone.

He was finally unbeaten on 133.

Wooding, 52, who also plays for the Kent over 50's side, said: "When I go out to bat I play each ball on its merits and try to occupy the crease for as long as I can. I do not give my wicket away cheaply and always try to score runs."

After bagging his first century as a 16-year-old, Wooding hasn't looked back and has scored bags of runs for Frindsbury, Holmesdale and now Gravesend.

Although he knew how many hundreds he had to his name when he neared the landmark, his mind was solely on the game.

"The state of the game was quite close and for some unknown reason it didn't pray on my mind at all.

"It wasn't until I actually passed the century mark that I realised that I'd done it. I got my hundredth hundred in 1986 so it was a great feeling to pass another milestone.

"The rest of the lads gave me a marvellous reception. They formed a tunnel when I walked off. I had a lump in my throat. It was a really nice gesture."

Wooding is aiming to keep churning out the runs. He said: "I made a conscious decision to drop into the second team so I can contribute and also help the youngsters.

"There are a lot of youngsters at the club and they just treat me like one of the lads. They give me respect and if they want advice I try to give it to them."

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