The highest first-class score by a test player is of course the iconic 501 not out from Brian Lara, which he scored for Warwickshire against Durham in Birmingham in June 1994.
The record in focus is held by BB Nimbalkar. The Indian batsman played a knock of 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in Pune. The legendary knock came in December 1948 in a match that had first class status.
Nimbalkar took 494 minutes for his 443 runs and struck 49 fours and one six during his stay at the crease. He had a shot at breaking the highest first class score at the time which was held by Don Bradman.
Bradman scored 452 not out in 1929-30 off 415 deliveries. He took 465 balls for the knock played for New South Wales against Queensland in Sydney. The date was January 3, 1930 when Bradman hit 49 fours en route to his unbeaten 452.
However, Nimbalkar was denied the opportunity as the opposition captain conceded the match with Maharashtra at 826/4.
Another well-known player for India to find a place on this list is Sanjay Manjrekar who scored 377 for Bombay against Hyderabad in Mumbai in 1991, blasting 50 fours and 5 sixes.
At the second place on the list of highest first class scores is Hanif Mohammad who was dismissed on 499 and missed the iconic number of 500 by just one run. Pakistan's Hanif batted for 435 minutes in which he hit 64 fours for Karachi against Bahawalpur in Karachi in January 1959. However, he does not qualify for this list as he went on to play test cricket.
Another batsman who features twice on the list is Australia's WH Ponsford who made 437 off 621 deliveries including 42 fours for Victoria against Queensland in Melbourne in 1927. At the time, he bettered his existing record of 429 off 477 deliveries which he scored against Tasmania.
The knock which included 42 fours as well came four years earlier in 1923. However, Ponsford went on to play test cricket for Australia and he also does not qualify for this list.
The uncapped player to play the highest first class knock for Australia is Charles Gregory who scored 383 for New South Wales against Queensland which came in Brisbane in 1906-07.
