Stephen Cook scored a South African first-class record 390 runs in a four-day national championship match that ended on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Highveld Lions opener batted for 838 minutes over three days, faced 648 balls and struck 53 fours and one six against Eastern Cape Warriors in East London before being trapped leg before by Johan Botha.
A son of former South Africa Test batsman Jimmy, Cook reached 100 off 226 balls, 200 off 411 and 300 off 569 as the Lions ended the final day on 690-9 off 224 overs in their first innings of a drawn match.
Cook surpassed Barry Richards, who made 356 for South Australia against Western Australia in the 1970-71 season, while the previous domestic best of 337 not out was struck by Daryll Cullinan 16 seasons ago.
Warriors, whose 532 was anchored by 154-run Ashwell Prince, won the bonus-point battle 6,58 to 5,10 despite the heroics of Cook in a match that marked the South African debut of England discard Monty Panesar.
The spinner experienced little joy with the Lions as his two wickets cost 131 runs in 37 overs and he was bowled for a duck by Botha after facing just seven balls. — AFP
