The second Twenty20 International between Scotland and Australia was played on a pitch that seemed more like a gym than a cricket field, making it difficult for batsmen on both sides to score runs freely. Try saying that to Josh Inglis, though. He was the only batter to achieve a record century by blazing his way past the pitch and the conditions. To set the stage for his team’s comfortable 70-run victory on Friday, the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter broke the record for the fastest century by an Australian men’s cricket player. Australia now leads the three-match series 2-0 and can’t be defeated after this victory.
Scotland won the toss at the Grange, and Travis Head, who had just scored a century in the first over of the match on Wednesday, was out for a first-ball duck.
After his departure, however, Inglis, a wicketkeeper from Leeds, came to the bat. The number three hit seven fours and as many sixes as he raced to three figures in just forty-three balls, just four balls short of the previous record for the fastest hundred for Australia in men’s T20Is, which was shared by Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, and former captain Aaron Finch.
Australia’s fastest T20I hundreds (by balls taken)
43- SCO vs. Josh Inglis, Edinburgh, 2024*
47: ENG vs. Aaron Finch, Southampton, 2013
47: Josh Inglis versus IND, 2023, Visakhapatnam
47 – IND vs. Glenn Maxwell, Guwahati, 2023
49 – Pallekele, 2016 – Glenn Maxwell against SL
Ultimately, Inglis scored 103 off of 49 balls. Australia’s 196-4 was built around his knock, with Scotland only scoring 126 all out in response. The last six players in Australia scored 89 runs off 73 balls between them, to put the innings in perspective.
On Friday, Inglis amassed more fours and sixes than all other Australian batsmen put together. Compared to the other Australian batsmen who faced at least ten balls, his strike rate of 210 was nearly twice as high.
“To be honest, it’s pretty special,” Inglis, 29, remarked following stumping. Holding that record is quite pleasant.
“There was a bit happening (on the pitch) early doors,” he remarked. “It got easier as the novelty of the new ball wore off. All I wanted to do was play some solid shots and demonstrate my intent.
“It’s a great chance for me to try to secure my spot and gain some playing time. Although there are many talented players, it’s important to put in some noteworthy performances.”
Brad Currie bowled opening batsman Head for a golden duck; the pacer top-scoring for Scotland with 3-37.
But Inglis was unstoppable, hammering up a century before Chris Sole got him in the covers.
With Australia’s Marcus Stoinis taking 4-23 and Brandon McMullen playing a lone hand of 59, Scotland’s chase was never sustained.
