Test Cricket is a format known for its patience, where batters grit for hours to accumulate runs. However, the format has often witnessed defining knocks at a steady pace. One such landmark moment came when Nat Sciver-Brunt surpassed Chamani Seneviratne to score the fastest Test century.
In the ongoing one-off Test between England and South Africa at the Bloemfontein, England’s Sciver-Brunt etched her name in the history book on scoring the fastest Test century which came off 96 balls. In this article, we will take a closer look at the top five fastest centuries in women’s Test history.
Fastest to Test century (balls faced):
1) Nat Sciver-Brunt: (96 balls) vs South Africa, Bloemfontein, 2024
The English all-rounder recorded the fastest Test century with her latest century coming off 96 balls against the Proteas. England elected to bat first after winning the toss and got off to a respectable start from their openers. Sciver-Brunt came out to bat when England lost their second wicket in the form of Heather Knight with 103 on the board. She started off positively with elegant strokes and also got to her fifty off just 46 balls. Sciver-Brunt alongside Maia Bouchier was involved in a 174-run stand for the third wicket. Her innings saw the English all-rounder taking on the Proteas bowlers with her aggressive stroke play. She reached her century off 96 balls and achieved the milestone of the fastest Test century, also registering her second ton in the red ball format. Her innings came to an end through an unfortunate run-out after being dismissed for 128 off 145 balls, an innings which included 18 boundaries. She was the top-scorer in England’s innings as the visitors declared the innings with 395 on the board.
2) Chamani Seneviratne: (106 balls) vs Pakistan, Colombo, 1998
Sri Lanka’s Chamani Seneviratne earlier held the record for scoring the fastest Test ton before being surpassed by Nat Sciver Brunt. It was during Pakistan’s tour to Sri Lanka in the Only Test that Chamani made her Test debut. After batting first, Sri Lanka declared their innings for 305 and later on, Pakistan was bowled out for 171 with Seneviratne scalping a fifer. During the third innings, Chamani walked out to bat when the hosts lost their sixth wicket for 141. She was involved in a 65-run stand for the seventh wicket alongside Kalpana Harshani. She brought her century off 106 balls and remained unbeaten at 105 as Sri Lanka declared the innings with 275 on the board. It was a memorable outing for Chamani in her debut Test, playing a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s victory with her all-round contribution.
3) Shafali Verma: (113 balls) vs South Africa, Chennai, 2024
Number three on the list is India’s dynamic opener Shafali Verma. During South Africa’s tour to India in the one-off test at Chennai in June 2024, the hosts won the toss and opted to bat first, with Shafali opening alongside Smriti Mandhana. Earlier in the innings, Shafali got off to a cautious start and then took the charge on. She brought her fifty off 66 balls as India crossed the 100-run mark without losing a wicket. Her next 50 runs came off 47 balls, as she completed her maiden Test hundred off 114 balls. She was involved in a record-breaking 292-run stand for the opening wicket. Shafali went on to smash a double century before being dismissed for 205 and was India’s top run-scorer with the host declaring with 603 runs and later on winning the match comfortably.
4) Smriti Mandhana: (122 balls) vs South Africa, Chennai, 2024
Smriti Mandhana too had recorded a century in the one-off test against Proteas in June 2024 which is fourth in the list of fastest Test centuries scored. The elegant Indian opener, alongside Shafali Verma, got India off to a brilliant start, playing the first piddle earlier in her innings. Mandhana brought her fifty off 78 balls and then accelerated, recording her hundred off 122 balls, including 19 boundaries. The opening duo were involved for a 292-run stand before Smriti’s innings came to an end as she was dismissed for 149 but played a crucial role in India’s commanding 10-wicket victory over South Africa.
5) Maia Bouchier: (124 balls) vs South Africa, Bloemfontein, 2024
The Heather Knight-led English side elected to bat first against hosts South Africa in the one-off Test. Maia Bouchier, on Test debut, opened the innings alongside Tammy Beaumont, and took the attacking approach earlier in the innings, also being involved in a 53-run stand alongside Beaumont before the latter was dismissed for 21. The right-handed batter brought her fifty off 71 balls with nine fours and a six. Later on, she was involved in a 174-run stand for the third wicket alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt. Bouchier took on the Proteas bowlers, smashing boundaries around the ground as she brought up her hundred off 124 balls. Her innings came to an end for 126 but it was a display of stroke play on her Test debut with her innings including 22 boundaries and two maximums.
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