RECORD RUN CHASE REMEMBERED
Worcester worsted by three century stands
Normally a score of 461-3, whilst substantial, would not be the subject of records and headlines but 25 years ago, on 2 July 2001, Nottinghamshire made that total to win a high-scoring match against Worcestershire at New Road.
It was, at that time, the highest score to win a Championship match in the fourth innings for more than three-quarters of a century and the second highest ever.
Not only did that innings set a new record for Notts as the highest ever successful run chase in the county’s long history but also featured three consecutive century partnerships, all at the top of the second innings.
Darren Bicknell, captain in the absence of Jason Gallian, and John Morris put on 157 for the first wicket; Bicknell and Greg Blewett added 102 for the second; and Blewett and Usman Afzaal 145 for the third.
Blewett finished on 134no, his third hundred of the season, and saw his new county home in an unbroken 57 stand with Paul Johnson. Bicknell made 104 and was one of five centurions in the game.
Worcestershire won the toss and decided to bat first, fully justified as the home side made 248, skipper Graham Hick 123, and dismissed Notts for just 160 for a first innings lead of 88. Kevin Pietersen, in his debut season, made 103no with David Lucas (21) the only other batter to make double figures.
Remarkably, both first innings were completed on day one, in which 98.2 overs were bowled.
The second day was calmer, Worcester progressing to 356-8, Phil Weston 185no (he finished with 192) and on the third day Nottinghamshire were 367-2, Blewett on a nerve-jangling 99no overnight.
On day four the run chase was duly completed and Nottinghamshire had a new record to celebrate.
The Guardian had a full report on the record, saying:
‘Context is all. Cambridge University set the First-Class pursuit record in 1896, racing to 507 for seven against MCC, since when only six sides have successfully chased more than Darren Bicknell's daredevils. Of those, only Middlesex, who tallied 502 for seven against Notts in 1925, have done so in the Championship.’
The headline-grabbing performance came in a moderate season for Notts – they finished seventh in the Championship – as the Club’s season review reports:
‘The first win of the season ranks among the most remarkable in the whole history of the Club. Nearly 100 runs in arrears on first innings, Notts were set 458 by Worcester in the fourth innings of the game – the best they had ever achieved was 419 back in 1926.’
Victory came in the eighth game of the season and there were only two more (of 16 played). The second success, also against Worcester, had some curious similarities. Again Notts were behind by 100 in the first innings though this time they had batted first. At a second attempt Notts made 423, leaving Worcester over 300 – victory was secured by 61 runs. The penultimate match saw the third win – a relatively easy canter against a down at heel Derbyshire.
Three century stands in a row in one innings is not unknown but we can find no other example of the first three wickets being partnerships of one hundred plus in Nottinghamshire’s history.
In 1928, Notts came so close…they made 656-3 declared in the first innings against Warwickshire at Coventry. George Gunn (148) and ‘Dodge’ Whysall (132) put on 245 for the first wicket; Gunn and Willis Walker (146no) added a further 117; then Walker and Arthur Carr fell just short – their partnership ended at 98 (Carr 58).
Fred Barrett then made 139no (a career best) to share an unbroken stand of 196 with Walker.
An innings score of four hundred plus is not that unusual – Notts have made more than 700 on three occasions – but a run chase of this magnitude is, indeed, worth remembering 25 years on.
July 2026
The Guardian report can be seen here
Notts CCC Season Review for 2001 here