On this day in 1994 Brian Lara breaks the record for most runs in a first class innings.
The monumental nature of the day's play could have been ruined by his own captain. Dermot Reeve offered the Durham captain, Phil Bainbridge, the opportunity for a double declaration allowing for a Warwickshire run chase of 356. Bainbridge declined and set the day up for a draw.
The only thing worth keeping an eye on was Lara's score - which skyrocketed in the first session. The West Indian put on 174 before lunch - taking his overall score to 285. Reeve had toyed with declaring at lunch but was persuaded otherwise due to the fact that Lara was twenty runs away from the Warwickshire all time highest score. Lara polished this off shortly after lunch - getting his third century in just 58 balls.
Any chance of declaring then went out the window as the game became The Brian Lara Show. The first chance that Lara offered on the day was when he was on 413 and was dropped by a substitute fielder just before tea.
At tea, Lara's mind was focussed on the next record in his sights. The highest score in England, Archie McLaren's 424. Soon after tea this record was dust.
Throughout all this he was ably supported by Keith Piper who also ticked over his first century - in relation to Lara's fourth - and their partnership had reached a storming 300 after they had come together before lunch. As the day waned and the sun began to set there was one last record on Lara's mind, Hanif Mohammed's 499 - the highest score in First Class cricket (covered here
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=20694&p=689973&hilit=Hanif#p689973).
With an eye for drama Lara started the last over at the non-striker's end on 497. Piper got a single off the second ball. The next two balls Lara did not make contact with. Two balls left. But Lara only needed one. His four off the next ball took him to 501 not out.
Lara's score of 501 came from 427 balls in just under eight hours of batting. It helped his side to a county record total of 810-4.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."