Stats: Andrew Umeed records the slowest century in the County Championship history

Scotland’s Andrew Umeed not only has an interesting name but a record to his name in the 127-year-old County Championship with marathon knock where he faced 392 balls for 113 runs. Playing for Warwickshire, Umeed took 331 balls to complete his century against Lancashire at the Birmingham.

Thus Umeed broke the record for the slowest century scored in the County Cricket history. The previous slowest century in the tournament’s history was held by Yorkshire’s Joe Sayers who took 330 balls for his century, one ball less than what Umeed needed to touch triple figures.

Sayers hit 104 off 347 balls in that inning when Yorkshire were chasing a 400-run target. Sayers, in fact, had the top two slowest tons in County history as the other one took him 318 balls later in 2005 against Durham before Umeed reset it.

Slowest centuries in terms of balls in County Championship: (Recorded)

However, Umeed missed out on recording the slowest century in terms of time taken as he completed his century after spending 428 minutes at the crease. The record for the slowest century scored in the County Championship is in the name of Jason Gallian who took 454 minutes for his century against Derbyshire in 1994 while playing for Lancashire.

Slowest centuries in terms of minutes in County Championship: (Recorded)

The 21-year-old Scottish player has featured in 10 first-class games in his career before this game and averages only 16.33 in the 16 innings he has batted so far. He scored a brilliant 101 on his County debut innings but failed to score more than 24 in the next 14 innings which included 4 ducks.

During this marathon knock, Umeed took 220 balls for completing his fifty; the 4th slowest in the County Championship. Billy Godleman holds the record for the slowest fifty as he needed 244 balls for his half century during his knock of 55 as he played a total of 265 balls for Derbyshire against Middlesex at the Lord’s in 2013.

Slowest fifties in terms of balls in County Championship: (Where recorded)

(Stats as on June 28, 2017)