Big-hitting Tom York is a man on a mission… to win a bet with his captain and prove himself as one of the best batsmen in his league.

Spurred on by a wager with Bungay skipper Chris Fuller, Tom has set his sights on beating last season's Norfolk Alliance best individual run tally of 869, scored by Vauxhall Mallards A's ex-Derbyshire professional Steve Goldsmith.

And with only seven games of the current 18-game campaign gone and 500 runs under his belt few would bet against him achieving the feat.

If he does then captain Fuller will be only too pleased to hand over the crisp �20 note he put up for grabs in the early stages of the campaign.

Since the deal was struck York has hit three centuries as Bungay have powered 33 points clear at the top of Frankly Digital Norfolk Alliance Division Four. They have a record of five wins and one defeat in six games completed.

And judging by Saturday's latest effort against Mundford, which followed tons against Thetford and Narborough, York's appetite for runs is far from satisfied.

'We had the bet after the first game when he had hit 64,' said Fuller. 'We looked in last year's handbook and saw that someone had got over 800 runs. Tom was sure he could do better and I said go on then, prove it. He was very confident then and he is even more confident now.'

A product of the club's youth system, York, 30, has never been out of the runs over the years and is improving with age.

'He is very powerful. He plays some very nice shots and he can take a game away from a team. He can hit a hundred in about 20 overs and with someone like that in the side he takes pressure off everybody else. He thrives on pressure,' said Fuller.

York added: 'When I had the bet I was looking to get over 800 runs but things have gone better than I expected and now I am looking for 1,000. I used to get caught on the boundary a lot but I am keeping the ball on the ground more now. I think I am concentrating a little bit better and perhaps that's something that comes with age.'

With York firing on all cylinders at number three and opener Will Lewis, brother of Cardiff City goalkeeper Joe, scoring freely, Bungay have regularly been able to bat the opposition out of sight.

But good all-round bowling and some 'exceptional fielding' has also played its part in the success story so far.

'Bowling wise the wickets have been very evenly spread and as a fielding side we have done exceptionally well,' said Fuller, whose only defeat this season has been against Great Melton A.

'Our aim at the start of the season was to achieve promotion. We have been in Division Four for a while now.

'We felt we were good enough but we just needed to be a bit more consistent. Last year it was only towards the end that we faltered,' said Fuller.

This Saturday Bungay hope to take another step towards their goal when they host high-flying Winterton at Maltings Meadow.

The Norfolk Alliance all-time record for most runs in a season is held by Norfolk star Carl Rogers with 1437 for Great Witchingham in 2006.

Tom, you have been told!