Northeast hits the highest score of the 21st century
SAM NORTHEAST struck the highest first-class score of the 21st century yesterday as run-scoring records were obliterated in Glamorgan’s crushing County Championship win over Leicestershire at Grace Road.
Northeast finished unbeaten on 410, the ninth biggest innings in the history of the game, as Glamorgan declared on 795 for five — the Welsh club’s largest ever total.
The 32-year-old brought up his quadruple hundred in style, hitting Roman Walker for six and then repeating the dose next ball to overtake the 405 not out made by Graeme Hick for Worcestershire v Somerset at Taunton in 1988.
Those came at the end of an unbroken 461-run stand with Chris Cooke, the biggest sixth-wicket stand in first-class matches in this country and second of all time. Only Brian Lara, with 501 not out for Warwickshire in 1994, and Archie MacLaren, who scored 424 for Lancashire in 1895, have hit higher county championship scores.
‘It’s truly special to be part of that list of names,’ said Northeast. ‘It’s crazy and I’m truly grateful for everything which happened today.’
Glamorgan then declared at lunch in pursuit of a final-day victory over a Leicestershire side who had broken their own first-class high score in their previous Championship outing — the 756 for four taken off Sussex’s attack at Hove.
The decision paid off, with Leicestershire skittled for 183 second time round to lose by an innings and 28 runs.
Meanwhile, England fast bowler Olly Stone will move to Nottinghamshire on a threeyear deal at the end of the season. The 28-year-old was a County Championship winner with Warwickshire in 2021 and feels he is over the injury issues that restricted him to 15 fourday appearances for the club in six seasons. Last year he underwent career-saving back surgery and Notts should reap the rewards of his attempts to add to his three Test caps.
‘I feel physically in the best shape I have been in, and the ball is coming out nicely,’ he said. ‘My pace is where it needs to be, now it’s just about putting a run of games together and performances in to back it up.’