South Africa v West Indies: Johnson Charles hits 39-ball century, beating Chris Gayle’s record

Johnson Charles broke Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest men’s T20 hundred for West Indies by hitting a 39-ball century against South Africa.

The right-hander was eventually out for 118 from 46 balls but his score helped his side post 258-5 in Centurion – their highest score in men’s T20s.

Charles hit 10 fours and 11 sixes before being bowled by Marco Jansen.

South Africa’s David Miller, India’s Rohit Sharma and Sudesh Wickramasekara of Czech Republic jointly hold the record for the fastest hundred in men’s T20s, reaching three figures in 35 balls.

Charles equalled the next best effort, also achieved by Zeeshan Kukikhel of Hungary against Austria and Romania’s Sivakumar Periyalwar against Turkey.

The 34-year-old came in after three balls with the score 2-1, hit his second and third balls for four and reached 50 in 23 deliveries before powering on to three figures.

Gayle, whose previous record was scored against England at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, still holds the record for the fastest T20 hundred in professional men’s cricket – a 30-ball ton in the Indian Premier League in 2013.

Charles’ 39-ball effort is not the fastest by any player for West Indies. Deandra Dottin hit a century in 38 balls for the women’s team against South Africa in 2010.