Scoring a century is always a special achievement. And if the three-digit figures come in an ICC event, then it’s the silver lining. Ask any batter, and they will confirm it.
The Champions Trophy, a 50-over tournament organised by the ICC, has seen many batters rack up centuries. But a few of them stand out among them for being the first from their country to do so.
This article will list such batters who scored the first century for their country in the Champions Trophy.
Alistair Campbell | Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s Alistair Campbell was the first-ever batter to score a century in the Champions Trophy. Interestingly, he brought up the hundred in the first match of the tournament’s history.
Campbell scored exactly 100 runs from 143 balls against New Zealand in the preliminary quarter-final in the 1998 edition. His knock included 7 fours and a six, which helped Zimbabwe put up 258.
But Campbell’s effort went in vain as New Zealand crushed their total with five wickets to spare.
Sachin Tendulkar | India
You simply can’t keep this man off of any record list, can you? Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian batter to smash a ton in the CT.
Four days following Campbell’s hundred, Tendulkar joined him on this list. The Master Blaster hammered 141 runs off 128 balls against Australia in the third quarter-final.
Tendulkar creamed 13 fours and 3 sixes while building his innings at a strike rate of 110.15. His knock propelled India to 307, which they defended by 44 runs.
Also Read | 5 Reasons Why Sachin Tendulkar is the GOAT
Jacques Kallis | South Africa
Jacques Kallis was the third centurion in the 1998 edition and the first from South Africa. He put up a gutsy knock against Sri Lanka in the first semi-final.
Coming to bat at No. 5 with South Africa at 57 for 3, Kallis accumulated an unbeaten 113 in 100 deliveries. He built his knock with the help of 5 fours and as many sixes.
Thanks to Kallis’ outing, South Africa cruised into the final, which they eventually won.
Philo Wallace | West Indies
Two days later, Philo Wallace smashed the first Champions Trophy ton for the West Indies. The former Caribbean batter scored 103 runs from 102 balls against South Africa in the summit clash.
Wallace’s innings was dotted with 11 fours and 5 maximums, though it wasn’t enough to take the Windies over the winning line.
Avishka Gunawardene | Sri Lanka
The second edition of the Champions Trophy saw a Sri Lankan batter cross the 100-run mark for the first time. Avishka Gunawardene took the honour against the Windies in the second preliminary quarter-final.
Opening the innings, Gunawardene amassed 132 runs. The knock lasted for 146 balls, which included 19 fours.
His outing pushed Sri Lanka’s total to 287, which the Windies couldn’t even come closer to in the run chase.
Saeed Anwar | Pakistan
In the second quarter-final of the 2000 edition, Sri Lanka were on the receiving end. Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar became the first from his country to notch up a century in the 50-over event.
Chasing a target of 195 runs, Anwar scored 105 of those to help Pakistan advance to the semi-final. It was a steady knock coming off 134 deliveries, which included 12 boundaries and a six.
Chris Cairns | New Zealand
The final of the 2000 Champions Trophy witnessed a century from a New Zealand batter. New Zealand were out chasing a 265-run target set by India.
And then Chris Cairns smashed a match-winning 102 runs off 113 balls. He remained unbeaten after scoring the winning run and helping New Zealand win their first ICC trophy.
Marcus Trescothick | England
Marcus Trescothick became the first Englishman to hammer a Champions Trophy hundred. In a group stage match in the 2002 edition, England played against Zimbabwe.
After electing to bat first, Trescothick guided England to 298 runs. In that process, he amassed 119 runs from 102 balls, including 11 fours and 2 sixes.
Shahriar Nafees | Bangladesh
The 2006 edition saw a Bangladeshi batter enter this list. Shahriar Nafees brought up Bangladesh’s first century in the CT.
In the fifth qualifying match, he accumulated an unbeaten 123 from 161 deliveries against Zimbabwe. Nafees constructed a patient knock that saw him slash 17 boundaries and a six.
Ricky Ponting | Australia
Australian batters took the longest to breach the 100-run landmark in the Champions Trophy. But it came at the right time in the 2009 semi-final against rivals England.
Ricky Ponting was the first from his country to finally score a hundred in the tournament. He amassed 111 runs in 115 balls, helping Australia gun down the 258-run target.
Ponting later went on to lead Australia to their second Champions Trophy triumph, beating New Zealand in the final.
Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran is the latest entrant on this list. Playing in their maiden Champions Trophy, Afghanistan were up against England in a group stage.
It was almost a virtual knockout for both teams. And Zadran stepped up for his side.
He scored a brilliant 177 runs from 126 balls when wickets were tumbling on the other end. Zadran’s knock, studded with 12 fours and 6 maximums, propelled Afghanistan’s total to 325.
It proved to be just enough to send England out of the 2025 edition, registering a memorable win. Interestingly, Zadran is also Afghanistan’s first centurion in the ODI World Cup, as he netted 129 against Australia in the 2023 edition.
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