Published on 06:19 PM, June 15, 2023

Surrey chase down record 501 to beat Kent

Surrey registered the highest run chase in 98 years in the County Championship as they chased 501 to beat Kent by five wickets at Canterbury on Wednesday.

It was only the second occasion on which a higher target has been chased down successfully in the County Championship since 1925, when Middlesex chased down 502 to beat Nottinghamshire.

Overall, it was the 8th joint highest successful run-chase in the history of first-class cricket.

Dom Sibley scored the competition's slowest ever century to guide Surrey to a rather comfortable win in the final day where Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith also smashing contrasting centuries.

Sibley finished on 140 from 415 balls after reaching his century in 511 minutes and 368 deliveries.

Kent needing seven wickets and Surrey 238 runs the reigning champions reached the target slowly and carefully.

Earlier Kent posted 301 runs in the first innings and then managed to bundle out Surrey for just 145 runs taking a crucial 156-run lead. Kent in reply to their second replied well and posted 344 runs to set to huge target of 501. But in a dramatic turn of events Surrey went on to create history chasing down the total and create history.