On This Day: Crawley Scores Triple Century In High Scoring Draw At Trent Bridge

Hampshire Cricket's historian Dave Allen takes a look back on timely memorable moments in his ‘On This Day’ series.

Hampshire (641/4d & 295/6d) v Nottinghamshire (612) , Championship, Trent Bridge: 24 July 2004

This was a match of records – and perhaps more pertinently nearly records. Heavy rain overnight delayed the start after which Kenway’s early dismissal (0-1) brought John Crawley to the wicket.

Crawley had launched his Hampshire career with 272 at Canterbury, the highest debut innings for the county, and he would retire with three of the seven highest Hampshire scores – including this day and the next at Trent Bridge when he posted 301*. He batted for 565 minutes, 442 balls with two sixes and 35 fours.

This was at the time the third highest innings for Hampshire and when Warne declared he was just 15 away from RH Moore’s record of 67 years earlier. There was a (maiden) century too for Michael Clarke in the huge 641-6 declared – then the fifth highest in Hampshire’s history.

Nottinghamshire closed day two on 129-3 and day three on 534-6 and were finally bowled out for 612 with three centurions – this was only the third occasion in Championship history that both sides had passed 600, and as a contest the match was over. There was however time for Clarke to score his second hundred before the bowlers gave a huge sigh of relief with Hampshire declaring on 295-6.

The 1548 runs (for 20 wickets) was, and remains, the third highest aggregate in Hampshire’s history.