DURHAM'S Martin Love needs eight more runs at Lord's today to beat his personal best score after breaking the Durham first-class record with 221 not out against Middlesex yesterday, writes Tim Wellock.

"I've had three double hundreds for Queensland and I was keen to get one for Durham," he said. "Hopefully this was a bit of payback for making so many 50s last season and only once going on to a hundred.

"We haven't spoken about the plan for tomorrow, but if I get the chance 300 would definitely be on the agenda.

"I had no idea it was a Durham record until Jon Lewis congratulated me in the middle."

Love was full of praise for Gordon Muchall, who out-scored him during a second wicket stand of 251.

"He's a very promising player and I was just happy to let him go. We suited each other's games very well and he probably played more attacking shots than I did."

After making his maiden century in only his ninth first-class innings, 19-year-old Muchall said: "It's my first time at Lord's and I felt honoured just to walk out through the Long Room.

"After getting 50s in the last two matches I felt I maybe should have had a hundred before now and I felt more relief than elation when I got there.

"I was annoyed to get out because it's a flat pitch and there was a chance to make a really big score."

Skipper Lewis, who was batting with Love at the end, held the previous record with 210 not out on his Durham debut against Oxford University in 1997.

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