Dom Sibley leads Surrey in historic 501-run chase

NEW DELHI: Surrey accomplished a remarkable feat by completing the highest run chase in the English County Championship in nearly a century. In an extraordinary match against Kent at Canterbury on Wednesday, Surrey chased down a mammoth target of 501 runs, winning the match by five wickets.
Former England batsman Dom Sibley played a pivotal role in the historic chase, albeit at a deliberate pace.Sibley's century became the slowest-ever in the history of the competition, showcasing his patience and resilience as he guided Surrey towards their target.
The successful chase ranks as the eighth-highest in first-class cricket and stands as the second-highest in County Championship history.
Surrey fell just one run short of matching the record for the highest chase in the Championship, which stands at 502 runs. This record was set by Middlesex against Nottinghamshire in 1925 at Trent Bridge, where they won the match by four wickets.
What threatened to be a pulsating final day instead turned into a one-sided procession as Sibley and England's Ben Foakes batted mercilessly.
Foakes made 124, while Sibley finished on 140 from 415 balls.
Sibley saw the job through as he eased Surrey home with Jordan Clark after a magnificent feat of concentration and endurance.
Jamie Smith also scored a century (114) in Surrey's second innings.
(With AFP Inputs)