West End Redbacks opening batter Jake Fraser-McGurk hit the fastest century in white ball cricket history on Sunday, bringing up his ton in a world-record 29 balls during SA’s Marsh Cup match against Tasmania.
Fans at Karen Rolton Oval witnessed something incredibly special, with Fraser-McGurk breaking multiple records.
His ton beat the previous best List-A record of 31 balls, which AB de Villiers hit for South Africa in 2015.
He smashed the record in the Marsh Cup competition, which was previously Luke Ronchi’s 56 balls for Western Australia in the 2006/07 season.
It was also faster than any Twenty20 ton, with Chris Gayle’s 2013 century off 30 balls in the Indian Premier League the current record.
The 21-year-old’s first half-century was also the fastest 50 in the Marsh Cup, helped by a 32-run third over.
The 32 runs off a Sam Rainbird over is the equal most in a Marsh Cup match, equalling fellow Redback Alex Ross’ efforts against New South Wales in 2017.
His second 50 was even faster, coming off just 11 balls and within that, he hit seven sixes in nine balls, a feat that no one at Karen Rolton Oval can remember seeing before.
Unfortunately, the Fraser-McGurk heroics weren’t enough to get the Redbacks over the line, with a record-breaking Tasmania total of 435 too much to reel in.
Alongside Fraser-McGurk’s century, Henry Hunt, Daniel Drew and Nathan McSweeney, also made half-centuries, but SA were bowled out trying to reach the massive total, falling 37 runs short.
Back to the start of the day, the Redbacks won the toss and elected to bowl, with Tasmania getting off to a good start and the Redbacks being unable to peg it back.
Jordan Silk’s 116 runs and Caleb Jewell’s 90 steered Tasmania to a record 9-435 runs, the highest score in the Marsh Cup.
Brendan Doggett and Wes Agar each got three wickets, while Henry Thornton removed both Tasmania openers.
South Australia’s focus will now turn back to red ball cricket, with a Marsh Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales set to get underway on Sunday, October 15 at Adelaide Oval.