South Africa’s T20 league has quickly become one of the most explosive batting arenas in world cricket, and nothing captures that better than its fastest centuries. From SuperSport Park to Newlands, SA20 batters have repeatedly torn up bowling attacks in under an hour.
In this fast-scoring rivalry, Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town share the edge, each contributing three centuries to the top 10, though Pretoria Capitals still owns the outright record. Here’s everything fans need to know about the fastest hundreds in SA20 history.
Fastest Hundreds in SA20: Top 10 List
Below is the list of the ten quickest centuries scored in SA20 since the league’s inception, ranked by balls faced.
| Rank | Player | Team | Balls | Runs | SR | 4s | 6s | Ground | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will Jacks | Pretoria Capitals | 41 | 101 | 246.34 | 8 | 9 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Jan 18, 2024 |
| 2 | Heinrich Klaasen | Durban’s Super Giants | 43 | 104 | 237.21 | 10 | 6 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Feb 05, 2023 |
| 3 | Rassie van der Dussen | MI Cape Town | 46 | 104 | 219.57 | 9 | 6 | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | Jan 13, 2024 |
| 4 | Kyle Verreynne | Pretoria Capitals | 48 | 116 | 210.42 | 7 | 9 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Feb 01, 2024 |
| 5 | Dewald Brevis | Pretoria Capitals | 53 | 101 | 188.68 | 8 | 7 | Newlands, Cape Town | Jan 25, 2026 |
| 6 | Faf du Plessis | Joburg Super Kings | 54 | 113 | 190.74 | 8 | 8 | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | Jan 24, 2023 |
| 7 | Ryan Rickelton | MI Cape Town | 54 | 113 | 187.04 | 8 | 9 | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | Jan 10, 2026 |
| 8 | Aiden Markram | Durban’s Super Giants | 55 | 108 | 185.45 | 12 | 5 | Kingsmead, Durban | Jan 17, 2026 |
| 9 | Ryan Rickelton | MI Cape Town | 57 | 113 | 182.46 | 5 | 11 | Newlands, Cape Town | Dec 26, 2025 |
| 10 | Aiden Markram | Sunrisers Eastern Cape | 57 | 100 | 175.44 | 6 | 6 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Feb 09, 2023 |
Player Descriptions: The Story Behind Each Fastest Hundred
This section highlights the players behind the fastest centuries, their match-winning knocks, and the impact of each innings. See what made these hundreds some of the most memorable in cricket history.
1. Will Jacks — 41 balls, 101* (Pretoria Capitals)
Will Jacks owns the outright record for the fastest century in SA20 history. Playing for Pretoria Capitals against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at SuperSport Park, Centurion, the English top-order batter reached his hundred off just 41 balls, finishing unbeaten at a strike rate of 246.34 with 9 sixes and 8 fours.
The innings remains the only sub-42-ball century in the tournament and instantly made Jacks one of the most feared power-hitters in the league.
2. Heinrich Klaasen — 43 balls, 104 (Durban’s Super Giants)
South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen produced the second-fastest hundred in SA20’s inaugural season, smashing 104 off 43 balls for Durban’s Super Giants at SuperSport Park.
Known for his brutal hitting over the leg side and down the ground, Klaasen’s innings, laced with 10 fours and 6 sixes, set an early benchmark for aggressive batting in the league’s very first edition.
3. Rassie van der Dussen — 46 balls, 104 (MI Cape Town)
Rassie van der Dussen, usually regarded as a calculated anchor in international cricket, showed his explosive side with a 46-ball century for MI Cape Town at The Wanderers Stadium.
His innings combined classic timing with calculated aggression, striking 9 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 219.57, proving his versatility as both a stabiliser and a finisher.
4. Kyle Verreynne — 48 balls, 116 (Pretoria Capitals)
Kyle Verreynne delivered the highest score among the fastest hundreds on this list, racing to 116 off 48 balls for Pretoria Capitals at SuperSport Park.
His innings featured 9 sixes and 7 fours, and it further reinforced Pretoria Capitals’ reputation as SA20’s most destructive top order, coming almost exactly a year after teammate Will Jacks’ record-breaking knock at the same venue.
5. Dewald Brevis — 53 balls, 101 (Pretoria Capitals)
Young South African prodigy Dewald Brevis, often compared to AB de Villiers for his shot-making range, blazed to a 53-ball century for Pretoria Capitals at Newlands, Cape Town.
With 7 sixes and 8 fours, Brevis’s innings showcased his ability to clear the boundary on both sides of the wicket and marked another statement of Pretoria Capitals’ batting depth.
6. Faf du Plessis — 54 balls, 113 (Joburg Super Kings)
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis led from the front with a 54-ball 113 for Joburg Super Kings at The Wanderers Stadium.
Blending experience with calculated risk-taking, du Plessis struck 8 fours and 8 sixes, delivering one of the standout captain’s knocks of SA20’s early seasons.
7. Ryan Rickelton — 54 balls, 113 (MI Cape Town)
Ryan Rickelton, MI Cape Town’s dependable opener, announced himself as a genuine power-hitter with a 54-ball 113 at The Wanderers Stadium.
Striking 8 fours and 9 sixes, this knock was the first of two rapid centuries Rickelton would go on to score in SA20, making him the only player to feature twice among the fastest hundreds.
8. Aiden Markram — 55 balls, 108 (Durban’s Super Giants)
Aiden Markram, representing Durban’s Super Giants, produced a boundary-heavy 108 off 55 balls at Kingsmead, Durban.
His innings stood out for an exceptional 12 fours alongside 5 sixes, highlighting his ability to find gaps consistently even while scoring at a rapid pace.
9. Ryan Rickelton — 57 balls, 113 (MI Cape Town)
Ryan Rickelton returned to this list with a second rapid century, striking 113 off 57 balls for MI Cape Town at Newlands.
This innings was even more six-heavy than his first, with 11 sixes and just 5 fours, underlining his evolution into one of SA20’s most consistent fast-scoring batters.
10. Aiden Markram — 57 balls, 100 (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Before his Durban’s Super Giants heroics, Aiden Markram had already featured on this list with an unbeaten 100 off 57 balls for Sunrisers Eastern Cape at SuperSport Park.
With 6 fours and 6 sixes, this innings marked Markram’s first appearance among SA20’s fastest centurions and set the tone for his reputation as a franchise-hopping match-winner.
Team-Wise Breakdown: Which Franchise Produces the Fastest Centuries?
This section shows the fastest centuries scored for each franchise. See which teams have produced the most explosive batting performances over the years.
| Team | Fastest Centuries in Top 10 | Players Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Pretoria Capitals | 3 | Will Jacks, Kyle Verreynne, Dewald Brevis |
| MI Cape Town | 3 | Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton (x2) |
| Durban’s Super Giants | 2 | Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram |
| Joburg Super Kings | 1 | Faf du Plessis |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape | 1 | Aiden Markram |
Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town are locked in a genuine rivalry at the top of this table, each producing three of the ten fastest centuries in SA20 history. Pretoria Capitals hold the qualitative edge thanks to Will Jacks’ record 41-ball hundred, while MI Cape Town’s case rests on consistency, led by Ryan Rickelton’s two rapid centuries.
Venue Analysis: Where Do SA20’s Fastest Hundreds Happen?
Some venues naturally produce high-scoring games, making them the perfect stage for explosive batting. This section highlights where the fastest centuries in SA20 history have been scored.
| Venue | Number of Fastest Hundreds | Notable Innings |
|---|---|---|
| SuperSport Park, Centurion | 4 | Will Jacks (41), Heinrich Klaasen (43), Kyle Verreynne (48), Aiden Markram (57) |
| The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | 3 | Rassie van der Dussen (46), Faf du Plessis (54), Ryan Rickelton (54) |
| Newlands, Cape Town | 2 | Dewald Brevis (53), Ryan Rickelton (57) |
| Kingsmead, Durban | 1 | Aiden Markram (55) |
SuperSport Park, Centurion remains the most century-friendly venue in SA20, hosting four of the ten fastest hundreds recorded — including the current record. Its flat, high-altitude pitch and short straight boundaries make it a batting paradise, which explains why it also hosted the record-breaking Will Jacks innings.
Player Spotlight: Will Jacks — SA20’s Fastest Centurion
Will Jacks arrived in South Africa as a promising English top-order hitter and left with a piece of SA20 history. Playing for Pretoria Capitals, Jacks combined clean hitting down the ground with ferocious cutting and pulling to blitz his way to a 41-ball hundred against Sunrisers Eastern Cape, a knock built on 9 sixes and 8 fours at SuperSport Park.
What makes the innings stand out isn’t just its speed but its context: Jacks brought up his fifty inside 20 balls and then doubled his effort in barely 20 more, taking the game away from the opposition in a single passage of play. The innings instantly established him as one of the most feared white-ball hitters in SA20 and cemented Pretoria Capitals’ identity as a team built around explosive top-order batting. Since that innings, Jacks has remained a marquee name whenever SA20’s fastest-hundred conversation comes up, and any future record chase will inevitably be measured against his 41-ball benchmark.
Ryan Rickelton: The Only Repeat Entry on the List
While every other batter on this list features once, MI Cape Town’s Ryan Rickelton has done it twice — a 54-ball 113 at The Wanderers Stadium and a 57-ball 113 at Newlands. This consistency in destructive batting highlights Rickelton’s growing reputation as one of SA20’s most reliable fast-scoring openers, and it’s the biggest reason MI Cape Town matches Pretoria Capitals at the top of the team-wise fastest-centuries table.
Related SA20 Batting Records Fans Often Search For
Alongside the fastest hundreds in SA20, fans frequently look for these related batting records:
- Fastest fifties in SA20 — a shorter-format version of this same speed race, often dominated by the same power-hitters.
- Most sixes in an SA20 innings — Ryan Rickelton’s 11-six knock and Aiden Markram’s boundary-heavy innings are among the standout performances.
- Highest individual scores in SA20 — a separate leaderboard measuring total runs rather than strike rate.
- Best strike rates in SA20 history (qualified innings) — closely tied to this list, since every entry above ranks among the tournament’s most explosive knocks.
- SA20 orange cap winners — the season’s leading run-scorers, which often include several names from this fastest-hundreds list.
These records collectively define the identity of SA20 as a league built for aggressive, high-tempo batting. Speed is only one side of the story, though — for a look at which batters have converted starts into hundreds most consistently over the years, check out the most hundreds in SA20, a list that rewards volume and repeatability rather than raw strike rate.
Why the Fastest Hundreds in SA20 Matter
Speed of scoring has become a defining metric in modern T20 cricket, and SA20’s fastest centuries showcase how far batting standards have evolved in just a few seasons. High-altitude venues like Centurion, combined with short boundaries at grounds like Newlands and The Wanderers, have created ideal conditions for boundary-hitting.
The presence of world-class power-hitters like Will Jacks, Heinrich Klaasen, Dewald Brevis, and Aiden Markram has only accelerated this trend, pushing strike rates well beyond 200 in multiple innings.
Conclusion
SA20’s fastest hundreds highlight just how aggressive and skill-driven this league has become in a few short seasons. Will Jacks’ 41-ball blitz remains the outright benchmark, but the rivalry for team supremacy is razor-close, with Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town tied at three centuries apiece.
As the league grows, expect these records to keep tumbling, with venues like Centurion and Newlands likely to host the next breakthrough innings.
FAQs
Will Jacks holds the record with a 41-ball century for Pretoria Capitals in January 2024.
Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town are tied with three entries each in the top 10 fastest centuries.
SuperSport Park, Centurion, has hosted four of the ten fastest hundreds recorded in the league.
Yes, Ryan Rickelton of MI Cape Town is the only player to feature twice on the list.
