There have been historic innings in first-class cricket, the storied format that serves as the game’s foundation, that are remembered throughout cricket history. This piece explores the pinnacles of batting ability, when teams made history by amassing massive totals that would go down in history. These innings, which feature individual and magnificent partnership performances, are a monument to the batters' tenacity and skill. We explore the history of first-class cricket by telling the stories of games in which batters produced innings that were so memorable that they had a lasting impact on the game's traditional form. Here is a list of the breathtaking heights of runs and the everlasting stories that are woven throughout the history of first-class cricket.
1. Victoria Vs NSW, 1926
The highest-ever innings in first-class cricket saw half-centuries, centuries, a double-century, and a triple-century being scored. Bill Ponsford was the top scorer with 352 runs, followed by Jack Ryder with 295 runs. Victoria reached 1107 runs, batting only once in the game. They won the match by an innings and 656 runs.
2. Victoria Vs Tasmania, 1923
Every score on the scorecard had at least double figures for Victoria, even the extras. Bill Ponsford was the top scorer again with 429 runs. The following best was 156 by Hammy Love. Half centuries from Herring, Brown, Bailey, and Schneider alongside the two massive innings propelled Victoria to a score of 1059 runs. They won the game by an innings and 666 runs.
3. Sind Vs Baluchistan, 1974
Half centuries from Shah, Javed, and Valika, in addition to the centuries from Shana and Miandad, backed by a massive score of 428 from captain Aftab Baloch, took Sind to a total 951 runs. In response, Baluchistan could not score big in both innings, losing in the end by an innings and 575 runs.
4. Hyderabad Vs Andhra, 1994
Two double centuries and a triple century were the highlights of Hyderabad’s innings. Noel David scored 207, and Vivek Jaisimha scored 211, only bested by 366 from Maturi Sridhar. Abdul Azeem played a supporting role with 85 runs. This great batting display helped Hyderabad to reach 944 runs, but they could not win the game as Andhra managed to snatch a draw.
5. NSW Vs South Australia, 1901
NSW put up an excellent batting display, wherein five of their batters scored centuries and two scored half-centuries. The 918 they put up was possible due to the three-figure scores from Iredale, Gregory, Duff, Poidevin, and Noble. An excellent bowling display meant they won the game by an innings and 605 runs.
6. Tamil Nadu Vs Goa, 1989
The Tamil Nadu innings started with some hiccups but was steadied by a triple century from Raman and a half-century from Singh. Another triple century from Arjan Kripal Singh and a century from captain Sivaramakrishnan saw them reach a massive total of 912 runs. The Goa batters remained unbeaten to take the game to a draw.
7. Holkar Vs Mysore, 1946
An insane six centuries in the innings from Bhandarkar, Sarwate, Jagdale, Nayudu, Nimbalkar, and Singh and a half-century from C S Nayudu, saw Holkar reach 912 runs. Thanks to this massive score, Holkar defeated Mysore by a gigantic margin of an innings and 213 runs.
8. Pakistan Railways Vs Dera Ismail Khan, 1964
A century from opener Hussain was capitalized by a double century from Babar and a triple century from Akhtar, who remained unbeaten alongside Sharif, taking Pakistan Railways to a score of 910 runs. Their bowlers ran rampage through the Dera Ismail Khan across both innings to win the game by an unbelievable margin of an innings and 851 runs.
9. Queensland Vs Victoria, 2006
Queensland started with a bang with Stevens scoring a half century and captain Maher scoring a gigantic double century. Centuries from Love and Perren, backed by a double century from Watson, propelled Queensland to a massive score of 900. A good bowling display saw them winning the game by a margin of an innings and 354 runs.
10. Yorkshire Vs Warwickshire, 1896
Three centuries from Jackson, Wainwright, and captain Hawke, supported by half-centuries from Moorehouse and Hirst, propelled by a double century from Peel, saw Yorkshire reach a giant total of 887 runs. The match ended in a draw despite such a massive score, as Warwickshire was able to bat long enough to deny Yorkshire a victory.
