West Indies’ Johnson Charles made history on Sunday, March 26, by breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest T20I hundred by a West Indies batter in T20Is. Charles achieved this remarkable feat during his team’s second T20I against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Gayle had set the record back in 2016 when he scored a 47-ball hundred against England in the T20 World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The record remained unbroken for seven years until Charles stepped up to the plate and made it his own.
🚨 West Indies Record
Amazing innings by Johnson Charles. Fastest T20I hundred by a West Indian, breaking Chris Gayle’s @henrygayle record that was established in 2016🔥#MaroonMagic #Rainingsixes #CharlesPower #MenInMaroon #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/SxZewRI0eI
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 26, 2023
How Charles Achieved his New Record
Charles reached his hundred off just 39 balls with a massive six off Sisanda Magala over the extra cover region. He also notched the joint second-fastest hundred in T20Is, matching Romania’s Sivakumar Periyalwar (against Turkey in 2019) and Hungary’s Zeeshan Kukikhel (against Austria in 2022).
The record for the fastest T20I hundred in world cricket is jointly held by three players – Rohit Sharma of India, David Miller of South Africa, and Sudesh Wickramasekara of the Czech Republic, who all achieved it in 35 balls.
In addition to breaking Gayle’s record, Charles also hit the fastest fifty against South Africa in T20Is, beating the previous record held by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who hit a 49-ball hundred against the Proteas back in 2021 at the same venue in Centurion.
After reaching his hundred, Charles upped the ante and hit Marco Jansen for two sixes, followed by a four in the 14th over. But in the last ball of the over, Jansen made amends by dismissing the Caribbean batter with a yorker.
Charles scored a total of 118 runs off just 46 balls, with 10 fours and 11 sixes. Following his dismissal, the West Indies lower order stepped up and helped them reach a mammoth total of 258 for five in their allotted 20 overs.
Other Records in the Match
💯💯💯
Quinton de Kock has done it! A maiden T20I century!!!!#SAvWI #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/vNxf78QHGR
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 26, 2023
While Charles stole the show with his record, he was not the only star of the match. A large portion of the West Indies victory was thanks to a sensational century from Quinton de Kock. De Kock’s 100 runs came off just 43 balls, and included eight sixes, as he led the Proteas to an incredible total of 259 for four in just 18.5 overs.
In addition to his century, de Kock also broke his record for the fastest T20I 50 by a South African, reaching the landmark in just 15 balls. He was supported by Reeza Hendricks, who scored 68, and skipper Aiden Markram, who was unbeaten on 38 at the end of the match.
As things stand, South Africa is chasing the imposing target and has already crossed the 84-run mark inside the fifth over.
The win was a historic one for South Africa, as it marked the highest-ever successful run chase in T20I cricket, surpassing the previous record set by Bulgaria in 2020. The victory also leveled the T20I series at 1-1, with one match still to play, which promises to be just as exciting as the last.
