What is First Innings Century? First Innings Century Explained in 2 minutes
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
31/03/2021
What is a First Innings Century?
A first innings century refers to a cricket player scoring 100 runs or more during the first innings of a match. The fact that it refers to the first innings of a match means that a bet of this kind can only really be placed on a Test Match, as One Day Internationals and T20 matches only have a single innings, and therefor none which can be described as the first.
How is a First Innings Century used in Sports Betting?
Bets of this kind are placed on an individual player rather than an entire team. As with the vast majority of cricket bets, successfully predicting a first innings century relies upon a very careful study of all the available facts. The bet shouldn’t really be placed until the teams have been named. Not least to ensure that the player you wish to bet on is in the line-up. In addition to this, knowledge of the teams will help to decide whether a century is likely. If the batsman struggles against spin bowling, for example, and an excellent spin bowler is starting for the other team, then a century becomes less likely.
Other factors to bear in mind include the current form of the player in question, whether the ground at which the match is being played is renowned for high batting totals, and what the condition of the pitch is likely to be. It’s also worth considering whether a player is coming up to a significant landmark, such as 50 centuries, and if you feel this would make them more determined to hit 100 runs or more nervous as the total gets closer. Also significant could be the question of what is riding on the match. If the Test Series has already been won, lost or drawn, the batsman in question might feel more emboldened to go for their shots and take risks, thus increasing the odds of an early dismissal.
