Records tumble to double century-maker Hick

Graeme Hick's 200 not out against Durham at Chester-le-Street saw him become the first batsman to score Championship centuries home and away against all other 17 first-class counties.

He also equalled the highest score made at the six-year-old Riverside ground, Darryl Cullinan having made 200 not out for South Africa against Durham in 1998.

The 117th century of his career also took Hick level with Don Bradman as he held the Worcestershire innings together before declaring at 356 for nine, 13 behind.

Play began half an hour late and a further 17 overs were lost with Durham on 69 for two in their second innings. They returned at 5.30 for nine overs and finished on 99 for two with Martin Love on 45.

Hick saw two partners run out when he was on 99 and was then almost out himself as he edged Nicky Hatch via the oustretched fingertips of Love, the only slip, for the two runs which took him to 101 off 157 balls.

Matt Rawnsley survived 23 overs and contributed 17 to a ninth-wicket stand of 99 before he was also run out.

Hick drove his only six off Graeme Bridge to reach 200 off 238 balls. He also hit 26 fours, many of them pulled disdainfully through mid-wicket and his fourth 50 came off only 23 deliveries.

On 68 overnight, his only real mistake came on 88 when he miscued a drive off Bridge and Jimmy Daley ran back 15 yards from mid-off to get under the ball, only to let it slip through his hands.

Gary Pratt was responsible for two of the run-outs, but with Danny Law suffering from a sore toe the already depleted Durham attack posed few problems for Hick on a flat pitch.