Cook smashes South African batting record

Lions opening batsman Stephen Cook has entered the record books after he made 390, the highest score in the history of South African first-class cricket, against Warriors in East London. Cook, whose score is the twelfth-highest overall in first-class cricket, overtook Daryl Cullinan's unbeaten 337 for Transvaal against Northern Transvaal in Johannesburg 1993-94. Cook's father Jimmy Cook had made 313 not out for Somerset against Glamorgan in Cardiff in 1990, and the pair are the first father and son to make triple-centuries in first-class cricket.

Cook's 390, laced with 53 fours and a six, came off 648 balls and in 838 minutes. In terms of time spent at the crease, his innings ranks as the fourth-longest in all first-class cricket. The game, though, was a high-scoring draw. Warriors, led by Ashwell Prince's 154, posted 542, and Lions bettered that effort, drawing the match to a close at 690 for 9. Cook, who was trapped in front by Johan Botha, was involved in another record. He added 365 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, playing in his 100th first-class game; the stand is the highest for that wicket in first-class cricket in South Africa.

Cook, 26, has played 76 first-class games, averaging 39.51 with 14 centuries and 20 fifties. His father, Jimmy, said: "Stephen recently told me he was playing the best cricket of his life so I told him to go out and make it count and he certainly did that. Naturally I am delighted and proud."