Batters to score 400+ in County Championship innings
County cricket is the most traditional form of domestic cricket with a rich cricketing history. Over the years, many players across the globe have found success in county and the experience has also helped a few of them attain greatness at the international level.
Meanwhile, there have also been a few batters who have made some mind-bending records in county cricket that remain intact to date. These include scoring in excess of 400 runs in an innings. Without further ado, here’s a look at three of them.
3. 410* Sam Northeast vs Leicestershire, 2022
Sam Northeast became the latest batter to make headlines in the ongoing County Championship 2022 when he scored an unbeaten 410 against Leicestershire. The knock was more than enough to hand Glamorgan an innings victory.
Meanwhile, this was also the first instance where a player crossed the 400-run mark after West Indies legend Brian Lara’s historic 400* against England back in April 2004. Northeast scored 410 runs off 450 deliveries and looked in great nick while batting in the middle with his strike rate well over 90.
He was also involved in an unbeaten 461-run stand for the sixth wicket alongside Chris Cooke before Glamorgan skipper decided to declare the innings.
2. 424 Archie Maclaren vs Somerset, 1895
Archie Maclaren became the first man on the planet to register a quadruple century in first-class cricket during a county match between Lancashire and Somerset back in 1895 in Taunton. He scored a spectacular 424 runs. In fact, that innings also remained the highest individual score on English soil for 99 years.
However, he overcame personal problems before reaching that treasured milestone as he faced financial issues that forced him to withdraw his name in the 1895 season. As for his innings, Maclaren batted just for 470 minutes to create a record innings, which included 62 fours and a six, helping Lancashire win by an innings and 452 runs.
1. 501* Brian Lara vs Durham, 1994
Brian Charles Lara was a very accomplished and remains arguably the best Test batter of all time. 1994 was indeed a special year for him both in international and county cricket.
While the southpaw registered the then best Test score of 375, he also became the first person to score more than 500 runs in an innings of a county game, which remains the highest score in the history of the County Championships to date.
While the southpaw registered the then best Test score of 375, he also became the first person to score more than 500 runs in an innings of a county game, which remains the highest score in the history of the County Championships to date.