Carberry makes triple-century in 523-run stand
Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie wrote themselves into the record books with a partnership of 523 as Hampshire's clash with fellow relegation candidates Yorkshire at the Rose Bowl ended in a draw
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Aug-2011
Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie wrote themselves into the record books with a partnership of 523 as Hampshire's clash with fellow relegation candidates Yorkshire at the Rose Bowl ended in a draw. Carberry was playing his third match since returning from a serious illness that kept him out of the game for nine months.
Carberry and McKenzie came together with Hampshire on 59 for two in response to
Yorkshire's first innings total of 532. The pair then thwarted the visitors for the little matter of eight hours and 135 overs with Carberry going on to make an unbeaten 300 and McKenzie scoring an equally valuable 237.
Hampshire, who remain winless and at the foot of the County Championship first division table, eventually declared at 599 for 3 when Carberry reached his triple-century.
That left only time for Yorkshire to score 40 without loss before both sides agreed on the draw. But it was the giant partnership of Carberry and McKenzie that will be remembered in a high-scoring contest.
Carberry's monster innings came off 427 balls and included 43 fours and two sixes. South African McKenzie, who also made the best score of his career, faced 412 balls, hitting 25 fours and two sixes.
Yorkshire's nine-man attack had no answer to Carberry and McKenzie whose partnership was the highest for the third wicket in the history of the County Championship. It beat the previous best in 1997 by Worcestershire's Graeme Hick and Tom Moody, ironically against Hampshire.
The stand was the third highest in the history of the Championship and the ninth highest in all first-class cricket. At one stage, it looked as if they would threaten the all-time best partnership of 555 between Yorkshire's Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe against Essex at Leyton.
Carberry, who been sidelined by illness for long periods since making his only England Test appearance in Bangladesh last year, said: "This was only my third match back in the team and I cannot believe it has gone so well. The pitch was perfect to bat on and Neil and I kept each other going.
"It has been well documented that I had blood clots on the lung and it has taken nine months out of my life. I am lucky just to be playing again so to get 300 exceeded all my expectations.''
The partnership came to an end at 523 in the 151st over when McKenzie lifted a gentle catch to mid-on where Gary Ballance held on to give left-arm spinner David Wainwright a wicket his perseverance had warranted.
Among the other records to go was Hampshire's highest stand for any wicket, overtaking the 411 put together by Robert Poore and Teddy Wynyard against Somerset at Taunton way back in 1899.
Carberry's previous best was 205 against Warwickshire two years ago and the only chance offered during the mammoth partnership came from McKenzie soon after surpassing his previous best of 225, a return catch which Wainwright failed to hold.
