In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for batsmen and a player's number of centuries is generally recorded in his career statistics. Scoring a century is loosely equated in terms of merit to a bowler taking five wickets in an innings, and is colloquially referred to as a ton.
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Centuries were uncommon until the late 19th century because of the difficulties in batting on pitches that had only rudimentary preparation and were fully exposed to the elements. There is doubt about the earliest known century, but the most definite claim belongs to John Minshull who scored 107 for the Duke of Dorset's XI v Wrotham at Sevenoaks Vine on 31 August 1769.[1] This was a minor match.
The first definite century in a major cricket match was scored by John Small when he made 136 for Hampshire v Surrey at Broadhalfpenny Down in July 1775.[2] The earliest known century partnership was recorded in 1767 between two Hambledon batsmen[3] who added 192 for the first wicket against Caterham. It is believed they were Tom Sueter and Edward "Curry" Aburrow[4] and it is almost certain that at least one of them scored an individual century, but there is no confirmation in the sources.
When Hambledon played Kent at Broadhalfpenny in August 1768, the Reading Mercury reported: "what is very remarkable, one Mr Small, of Petersfield, fetched above seven score notches off his own bat". Unfortunately it is not known if Small did this in one innings or if it was his match total.[3] Hambledon batsmen Tom Sueter and George Leer are the first two players definitely known to have shared a century partnership when they made 128 for the first wicket against Surrey at Broadhalfpenny Down in September 1769.[5]
W. G. Grace was the first batsman to score 100 career centuries in first-class cricket, reaching the milestone in 1895. His career total of 124 centuries was subsequently passed by Jack Hobbs, whose total of 199 first-class centuries is the current record.[6][7]
The first century in Test cricket was scored by Charles Bannerman who scored 165 (before retiring hurt) in the first ever Test between Australia and England (played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 15–19 March 1877[8]). The first century partnership in Test cricket was put on between W. G. Grace and A. P. Lucas, batting for England, in the first innings of the only Test match between England and Australia on the Australians 1880 tour of England, played at the Kennington Oval (6–8 September 1880).
The current holder of the record for most centuries in Test cricket is Sachin Tendulkar of India, who has scored 51 centuries.[9]
The first One Day International (ODI) century was scored by Denis Amiss who amassed 103 runs against Australia at Old Trafford in 1972[10] (the second official ODI on record). Sachin Tendulkar currently holds the record for most ODI centuries, having scored 48 centuries.[11]
When a batsman scores 50 or more runs in a single-innings, he reaches his half-century. If he then goes onto score a century, that supersedes the half-century. (So a score of 100 or above would count as a century, but not a half-century.)
A bowler's century, or gallon, occurs when a bowler concedes 100 runs in an innings. [12] A bowler's century is obviously not considered as a desirable achievement by a player.
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