Murray Goodwin broke his own record for the highest score in Sussex’s history and then revealed he might not have played.

The 35-year-old has been suffering from a virus for several days but got off his sick bed to score 344 not out as Sussex piled up another record with 742-5, the highest total in their history.

Goodwin said: “I’ve been really struggling for a few days. I have been taking a lot of medication and have been staying in bed. I was lucky to get out there because I was that crook.

“I still feel rubbish but after scoring your highest score you have to have a little celebration.”

Goodwin hit six sixes and 43 fours in an innings lasting nearly six hours after getting a stroke of luck before he had even scored.

He added: “When I was on nought the ball hit my thigh pad, the keeper dropped it and it went for four.

“I was quite thankful but if the umpire had given me out I would have been extremely disappointed because that is how my season has been.”

Goodwin, whose previous best of 335 was set in 2005, went into the game with just 282 runs and an average of 16.58 but he maintained he always thought he would come good this season.

He said: “I have been hitting the ball well and I kept saying to the team and myself that someone will pay one day.”

Carl Hopkinson contributed a career-best 139 to a record fourth-wicket stand of 363.

Somerset will resume today on 126-0, still 616 runs behind.