Photograph by: WILLIAM WEST
Credit: AFP

The previous record was held by Daryll Cullinan, who made 337 16 years ago while playing for Transvaal (now the Highveld Lions).

Cook, who opens the batting for the Highveld Lions, was 202 not out overnight in a match against the Warriors at East London's Buffalo Park. On Sunday, he took his score to 10 short of 400 before he was trapped leg before by off-spinner Johan Botha.

Cook, 26, the son of another prolific run-scorer in South African cricket, Jimmy Cook, faced 648 balls and batted for close to 14 hours. His innings spanned 10 sessions in the four-day match, which ended in a draw. He hit 53 fours and one six.

On the featherbed pitch, Cook's triple-hundred overshadowed a maiden century for the Lions by new cap Thami Tsolekile, the wicketkeeper who recently moved north from Western Province. Tsolekile made 141, batting at No7.

The Warriors, who were sent in, made 532 with Ashwell Prince scoring 154. The Lions replied with 690 for nine.

In the other first-class match that ended on Sunday, the Titans and Dolphins drew. The Dolphins were 82 runs short of victory, with six wickets still standing.

• Botha and Warriors team-mate Rusty Theron were called by umpires last week for suspect bowling actions. Both will be tested at the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town this week.