A century is one of cricket’s biggest batting milestones, but what does it mean when you see it listed in a betting market?
In cricket betting, a century means an individual batter scores at least 100 runs in a single innings. A century bet typically involves predicting whether a particular player will reach that milestone or whether any player will score 100 runs during a specified innings or match.
Understanding the difference matters because cricket markets can have different settlement conditions. This guide explains how centuries are scored, the types of bets associated with them, and what to check before exploring cricket betting markets at 7bet.
What Is a Century in Cricket Betting?
A century in cricket is achieved when a batter scores 100 runs or more in one innings.
The term is used across Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 (T20) matches. Although the time available to score those runs varies between formats, the definition stays the same.
For betting purposes, the important distinction is that a century is an individual batting achievement, not a team’s combined score. For example:
- A batter scores 99 runs: No century.
- A batter scores exactly 100 runs: Century achieved.
- A batter scores 125 runs: Century achieved.
- A team scores 200 runs, but no individual reaches 100: No individual century.
A player does not need to finish unbeaten for their innings to count as a century. Once they reach 100 runs, the milestone has been achieved.
Cricket Century: Quick Facts
Get familiar with what it takes to earn a century in cricket.
| Question | Answer |
| How many runs make a century? | 100 runs by one batter |
| Does 100 exactly count? | Yes |
| Does 200 count as a century? | Yes, and it is also a double century |
| Can a batter score a century in T20? | Yes |
| Do team runs count towards a player’s century? | No |
| Can a player score two centuries in one Test match? | Yes, one in each innings |
| Is a century the same as a half-century? | No. A half-century is 50 runs |
How Does Century Betting Work in Cricket?
Century betting involves predicting whether a batter will reach 100 runs under the conditions specified by a bookmaker.
Unlike a match-winner bet, the outcome of a century market depends on individual batting performance or the occurrence of a century within the relevant match or innings.
Player to Score a Century
This market asks whether a named batter will score at least 100 runs. For example, imagine a player finishes an ODI innings with 112 runs. A bet on that player to score a century would meet the scoring requirement.
If the player finishes with 87 runs, they have not reached the milestone.
Important: In multi-innings formats, check whether the selection applies to a particular innings or the match as a whole.
Will There Be a Century in the Match?
Instead of selecting an individual player, this market asks whether at least one batter will score 100 runs during the specified match.
For example, if either team produces a batter who scores 104 runs, a straightforward ‘Yes’ selection would meet the scoring condition.
First Innings Century
A first innings century market relates to a century scored during the innings identified in the market. The wording is especially important in Test cricket, where both teams can bat twice. ‘First innings’ might refer to the first innings of the match or a particular team’s first innings, depending on the selection.
Do not assume that first innings century markets are exclusive to Test cricket. ODIs and T20s also have first batting innings. What matters is the precise market definition.
How Is a Century Scored in Cricket?
A batter builds their individual score by accumulating runs during an innings. Runs can come from running between the wickets or hitting boundaries.
A boundary four adds four runs to the batter’s score, while a boundary six adds six. Runs completed between the wickets also contribute to the batter’s individual total when credited to them.
However, extras such as wides and byes contribute to the team’s score without increasing the batter’s personal total.
Example: How a Batter Reaches 100 Runs
This is one possible scoring combination. A century can be achieved through many different combinations of boundaries and runs between the wickets.
| Scoring Method | Number | Runs |
| Fours | 10 | 40 |
| Sixes | 4 | 24 |
| Singles | 20 | 20 |
| Twos | 8 | 16 |
| Total | 100 |
Batters must also avoid dismissal long enough to reach the milestone. Field placement can influence scoring opportunities, particularly when a batter looks for gaps or attempts boundaries. Read our guide to cricket fielding positions to understand how teams position fielders to restrict runs.
Does a Century Mean the Same Thing in Test, ODI, and T20 Cricket?
Yes. A century always means 100 or more runs by one batter in a single innings. What changes is how much time they have to get there.
| Format | Typical Innings Limit | Century |
| Test | Up to two innings per team | 100+ runs in one innings |
| ODI | Up to 50 overs | 100+ runs in one innings |
| T20 | Up to 20 overs | 100+ runs in one innings |
In Test cricket, a batter can score separate centuries in both innings. In ODIs and T20s, the same 100-run milestone applies, but within a shorter format.
What Is the Difference Between a Century, Half-Century, and Double Century?
Cricket uses several batting terms to describe individual milestones. A half-century is reached at 50 runs, a century at 100, and a double century at 200.
| Batting Milestone | Runs Required | Common Term |
| Half-century | 50 | Fifty |
| Century | 100 | Hundred or ton |
| Double century | 200 | Double hundred |
| Triple century | 300 | Triple hundred |
Does Scoring 200 Runs Count as Two Centuries?
No. In cricket statistics, a score of 200 or more in one innings is recorded as one century, not two separate centuries.
A batter must score 100 runs in two different innings to record two centuries. This distinction matters when interpreting statistics or betting markets that refer to the number of centuries scored.
What Should You Check Before Placing a Century Bet?
Before placing a century bet, consider:
- Market type: Check whether you’re betting on a named player, any player, a specific innings, or a runs total.
- Playing XI: Confirm the batter is selected to play.
- Batting position and form: Consider where they bat and their recent performances.
- Pitch and opposition: Conditions and the bowling attack can affect scoring opportunities.
- Weather: Rain can reduce available overs and affect some markets.
Always check the specific market and settlement rules before placing a bet.
How Do Cricket Century Betting Odds Work?
Century betting odds represent the price offered for a particular outcome. For example, suppose a hypothetical player-to-score-a-century selection is offered at decimal odds of 4.00.
A £10 winning bet would return: £10 × 4.00 = £40 total return
That consists of:
- £10 original stake
- £30 profit
If the selection loses, the £10 stake is lost. This is an illustrative calculation, not a current 7bet price or a prediction of a player’s performance.
Famous Cricket Centuries That Show Why the Milestone Matters
Some famous innings show just how differently a century can be achieved:
- Sachin Tendulkar: Finished his international career with 100 centuries, including 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs. Each century came in a separate innings.
- Kevin O’Brien: Reached 100 from just 50 balls against England at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, then the fastest century in Men’s Cricket World Cup history.
- Jos Buttler: Scored 101 not out against Sri Lanka at the 2021 T20 World Cup, showing that a batter does not need to be dismissed for a century to count.
Century Records
A few records help put the milestone in context:
- Most international centuries: Sachin Tendulkar, with 100.
- Most ODI centuries: Virat Kohli, with 54.
- Fastest Test century: Brendon McCullum, 54 balls against Australia in 2016.
- Fastest ODI century: AB de Villiers, 31 balls against the West Indies in 2015.
- Fastest T20I century: Sahil Chauhan of Estonia, 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024.
Can You Bet on Cricket Centuries at 7bet?
7bet provides a cricket betting section where you can explore available competitions, fixtures, and odds.
Century-related selections are not guaranteed for every match. The markets offered can vary by competition, fixture, and time.
If you are interested in a particular century market, check the available selections and read the applicable betting rules before placing a wager.
Betting Responsibly on Cricket Markets
Cricket offers different betting opportunities across Test matches, ODIs, and T20 competitions. Set a budget before placing any bets, and avoid increasing stakes to recover losses.
7bet provides information about safer gambling tools, including deposit limits and self-exclusion, through its Responsible Gaming page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Centuries in Cricket Betting
What is a century in cricket betting?
A century in cricket betting means a batter scores at least 100 runs in one innings. Betting markets may ask whether a named player will reach 100 or whether any player will score a century during a specified match or innings.
What does a century mean in cricket?
A century is an individual batting score of 100 runs or more in a single innings. It is also commonly called a hundred or a ton. This applies to Test cricket, ODIs, and T20 matches.
Is 200 counted as a century in cricket?
Yes. A batter who scores 200 runs has passed the century milestone and achieved a double century. However, a score of 200 in one innings is recorded as one century in cricket statistics, not two separate centuries.
How does a player score a century in cricket?
A batter reaches a century by accumulating 100 individual runs through boundaries and runs between the wickets. For example, a player could reach 100 using a combination of:
- Fours and sixes
- Singles
- Twos and threes
Extras such as wides and byes do not count towards the batter’s personal score.
Can a player score two centuries in one cricket match?
Yes, in Test cricket, a batter can score a century in each of their team’s two innings. For example, scores of 120 and 105 would count as two separate centuries. Scoring 225 runs in one innings would instead be recorded as one century, specifically a double century.
Does a century bet win if a player scores exactly 100 runs?
For a straightforward market requiring a player to score 100 or more runs, yes. A score of exactly 100 meets that threshold, while 99 does not. Always check the selection wording because other player-runs markets may use different thresholds or settlement conditions.
Can a batter score a century in T20 cricket?
Yes. A T20 century occurs when a batter scores at least 100 runs during their innings, even though each team normally has only 20 overs. Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 101 against Sri Lanka at the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup is one example.
How many cricketers have scored 100 international centuries?
Only one: Sachin Tendulkar, who finished with 51 Test and 49 ODI centuries.
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