On this day in 1920: The Fastest first-class century is scored
There have been some outstanding performances in first-class cricket over the years both individual and collective. As far as individual performances are concerned, many players have gone on to etch their names in FC cricketing history by delivering memorable performances in this form of the game.
However, the first-ever fastest century scored in first-class cricket was a commendable achievement back in the 1900s when the game was not that well advanced and it was on this day in 1920 that Percy George Herbert Fender did the unthinkable.
Fender was one of the very accomplished cricketers who had played a lot of county cricket before the Great War, having captained Surrey. In a decorated FC career spanning over 25 years, Fender amassed 19,034 runs at an average of 26.65, including 21 centuries and six double centuries. He also registered 1,894 scalps.
Meanwhile, it was on this day exactly 102 years ago that Fender got recognition in the game AS HE scored the quickest-ever ton in FC cricket, batting against Northampton. It took the cricketer just 35 minutes to breach three figures in a record which remains intact as far as scoring a century in least number of balls is concerned.
Fender went on to score a whirlwind 113*, which included 16 fours and five maximums. Apart from that, the all-rounder was also involved in an unbeaten 171-run stand with Alan Peach and the duration of this partnership was 42 minutes.
Nonetheless, it was Surrey who came out on top in the end with an emphatic eight-wicket victory. While Surrey could not win the tournament that season, they went on to finish third. It is to be noted that Fender created this unique record just four days after his 28th birthday.
Fender’s glorious record might have not been surpassed by any other first-class batters for a over a century, but it was challenged once in 1983. The person who almost did the unthinkable was Steven O’ Shaughnessy. The then Lancashire batter went on to equal Fender’s feat after a long wait of 63 years when he registered a ton against Leicestershire at Old Trafford, Manchester.
