Cricket: The Top Ten

Extra Cover: A week in cricket

Richards on a different plane

Ben Hollioake failed narrowly on Saturday to become only the fourth centurion in a Benson and Hedges final, entering a roll call headed by the brilliant Viv Richards (above). Few of those lucky enough to witness the 1981 final will ever forget the sheer majesty of Richards as he lifted the art of batting to a new plane in enabling Somerset to secure the second of four one-day trophies in as many seasons during the glorious era of Richards, Ian Botham and Joel Garner. One correspondent, unapologetically lost for suitable adjectives, recorded that "some of his strokes were made with the air of a man sending a smelly kipper back to the kitchens. Take it away! Not fit for superhuman consumption."

Highest individual scores in

Benson & Hedges finals

132* Viv Richards (Somerset)

v Surrey 1981

120 Graham Gooch (Essex)

v Surrey 1979

112 Aravinda de Silva (Kent)

v Lancashire 1995

98 Ben Hollioake (Surrey)

v Kent 1997

97 David Capel (Northants)

v Yorks 1987

95* Alan Lilley (Essex)

v Notts 1989

93 Mike Atherton (Lancashire)

v Kent 1995

92* Dominic Cork (Derbyshire)

v Lancs 1993

92 Roger Knight (Surrey)

v Somerset 1981

90 Robin Smith (Hampshire)

v Kent 1992