The 20-year-old’s scintillating innings came from just 50 balls, which included eight fours and six sixes. The previous record score in the men’s The Hundred was 92, set by Smeed’s teammate Liam Livingstone in 2021.
Will Smeed’s effort helped Phoenix score 176 off 100 balls – the highest score so far in this year’s hundred. A spirited and hopeful Edgbaston bathed in sunshine, Smeed needed a run to reach the historic milestone with only two balls remaining.
He managed to score two runs off the final ball, in which the Somerset batsman removed his helmet and raised his bat in the air to thunderous applause.
Smeed’s performance was supported with the ball by another youngster, as 22-year-old Henry Brooks took 5-25 – only his third five-wicket haul in The Hundred – to dismiss the Southern Braves for 123 and a crushing 53. To help seal.
While former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan believes Smeed’s century could be a turning point, the youngster could potentially set the standard for a new breed of cricketer committed to playing limited-overs cricket around the world. can become a carrier.
Morgan told Sky Sports, ‘It’s a line in the sand for English cricket. “He doesn’t play any first-class cricket, he is primarily a T20 cricketer and is clearly exceptional in what he does. So this is potentially a new opportunity for him in international cricket.
“We’ve seen other competitions around the world where domestic franchise tournaments that attract big-name players create domestic heroes. Tonight Will Smeed has become one of them.”
Smeed’s exceptional knock was the perfect blend of power hitting, innovative strokeplay, perfectly timed acceleration and top-class technique.
After dismissing George Garten for four off his pads on the first ball of the match, Sameed played the role of second fiddle to fellow opener Chris Benjamin and the highly experienced Moeen Ali in the opening leg.
When both players left it brought Livingstone to the crease and it was expected that the England batsman would soon crunch the ball around Edgbaston.
Instead it was done by Will Smeed, the youngster smacking James Fuller for fours in a row. He then completed his half-century with a huge six in just 25 balls.
Smeed was on 83 with 10 balls to spare. A single and a four took him to 88. This was followed by another huge six and he reached a record-the-hundred-high score with 94 runs.
Another single took him to 95 and a four and 99 brought him unbeaten. Edgbaston chuckled. The record-breaking shot was a push into cover and Will Smeed became the first player to score The Hundred’s maiden century.