Seifert smashes fastest century

As Jesse Ryder blazed away, Tim Seifert’s record for fastest New Zealand Twenty20 cricket century looked like standing for less than 24 hours.

Ryder flew into gear for Central Stags against Ben Stokes and the Canterbury Kings at Saxton Oval in Nelson, reaching 50 off 19 balls a day after Seifert’s 40-ball ton for the Knights against Auckland Aces in Tauranga.

But Ryder’s onslaught was ended by left-arm spinner Blake Coburn for 84 off 40 balls, including eight fours and six sixes.

It spurred the Stags to an eightrun run victory but not before some tense moments for the hosts as Ryder was so nearly upstaged by Kings gloveman Cam Fletcher.

Fletcher clouted 74 not out off 39 balls - also clearing the rope six times - as the Kings finished 205-6 in reply to the Stags’ 213-5. Both sides now have a win and a loss from their first two matches.

Ryder was on track to beat former Stag Jamie How’s 45-ball mark which was relegated to second-fastest on Saturday night, before he lofted a drive to long-off to put the Kings’ bowlers out of their misery.

Amid an early season runfest which began with back-to-back Plunket Shield centuries, Ryder was near unstoppable with powerful on-drives, pulls and dismissive leg side flicks. Tim Seifert has scored the fastest century in Twenty20 domestic history.

The Northern Districts wicketkeeper-batsman thumped nine sixes and nine fours in roaring to 107 off 42 balls for the Knights against the Auckland Aces in Mount Maunganui on Saturday night.

Seifert got to his ton in 40 balls, five faster than the previous record held by Jamie How for Central Districts against Wellington in

2012.

Seifert also surpassed the previous best individual tally by a Northern Districts batsman in the domestic Twenty20 competition of

94 by Peter McGlashan in the

2005-06 season against Wellington. His knock helped the Knights reach 214-9e in their 20 overs batting first.

‘‘It was just one of those nights that go your way – a couple of mishits which went for six – it was enjoyable,’’ Seifert told Sky TV.

The Aces gave the big target a real rattle as their openers also struck out early.

The in-form Glenn Phillips cracked 65 off only 38 balls (six