'Returns the number of rows matched by this query.
*Note: This function executes a SELECT COUNT() and has a performance cost on large datasets*'

def count(self):

    if self._batch:
        raise CQLEngineException('Only    inserts,    updates,    and    deletes    are    available    in    batch    mode')
    if (self._count is None):
        query = self._select_query()
        query.count = True
        result = self._execute(query)
        count_row = result[0].popitem()
        self._count = count_row[1]
    return self._count
