Top 10 fastest triple centuries (300) in First Class cricket

Three Indian cricketers are in this elite list of fastest triple centuries in First Class cricket.

First Class (FC) cricket is the oldest form of the game, which is believed to have started in the 1770s. First Class cricket gained official status in 1895. It is a game of three or more days and is given the status based on the standard of the competing teams or the competition.

Over 200 years of its history, there have been innumerable batting records created and broken in FC cricket at various levels. One of the feats that is difficult to achieve and is much-respected is a triple century.

Scoring a century at any level is always a big achievement for a batter, but a very low percentage of centuries are converted into a triple century.

In this article, we will talk about the 10 fastest triple centuries in FC cricket history. Some Indians also feature on this elite list of batters.

List of top ten fastest triple centuries (300) in First Class cricket:

10. Ramesh Mendis – 270 balls vs Negombo SC, Colombo, 2020

Sri Lanka’s Ramesh Mendis features on this list courtesy of his 270-ball triple century against Negombo Cricket Club in 2020.

He was playing for Moors Sports Club in Colombo in February 2020 and made an unbeaten 300 off 270 balls with 28 fours and 10 sixes, helping his team declare at 652/8. This is also Mendis’ highest FC score. 

9. Kashyap Bakle – 269 balls vs Arunachal Pradesh, Porvorim, 2024

The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match between Goa and Arunachal Pradesh at Porvorim saw two quick triple hundreds. Goa won the game by an innings and 551 runs in a record-breaking victory. They made 727/2d and dismissed Arunachal Pradesh for 84 and 92.

It was made possible by an epic 606-run unbeaten partnership between Kashyap Bakle (300*) and Snehal Kauthankar (314*). Kashyap scored his triple hundred off 269 balls to make his entry into this list.

8. Graeme Smith – 249 balls vs Leicestershire, Taunton, 2005

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith was one of the best long-format openers of his generation. His highest FC score of 311 came while playing for Somerset against Leicestershire in a County match in Taunton in 2005.

He slammed a 249-ball triple century and finished with 311 off 255 balls, with 27 fours and 11 sixes, helping his team reach a dominating position and win by ten wickets eventually.

7. Kithuruwan Vithanage – 245 balls vs Sri Lanka Air Force SC, Katunayake, 2015

In a game between Tamil Union CAC and Sri Lanka Air Force SC in Katunayake in 2015, Tamil Union’s Kithuruwan Vithanage racked up a 245-ball triple hundred.

This helped his team post a huge total of 650/8. Vithanage scored 351 runs off 283 balls, with 37 fours and 14 sixes, which helped his team eventually win by an innings and 287 runs.

6. Kusal Perera – 244 balls vs Saracens SC, Colombo, 2013

The fastest triple century in FC cricket by a Sri Lankan batsman belongs to Kusal Perera. The southpaw reached the landmark off 244 balls while representing Colts CC against Saracens SC in Colombo during the Premier League Tournament 2013.

He scored 336 runs off 275 balls, with 29 fours and 14 sixes. His innings helped his team declare at 611/8d, and they won the match by an innings and 287 runs.

5. Viv Richards – 244 balls vs Warwickshire, Taunton, 1985

Hailed as one of the greatest and most fearsome batsmen of all time, Viv Richards hit the fastest triple century by a West Indies batsman in FC cricket.

He was famous for his fearless approach and was the backbone of the team that he played for. Richards played many blistering knocks in his career, and one of them came against Warwickshire at Taunton in 1985.

He was playing for Somerset and scored a 244-ball triple century. He made 322 runs in that innings and it was the fastest FC triple century that time.

4. Ken Rutherford – 234 balls vs DB Close’s XI, Scarborough, 1986

Former New Zealand batsman Ken Rutherford slammed his highest FC cricket score of 317 against DB Close’s XI in Scarborough in 1986 while playing for New Zealanders. He took only 234 balls to reach the triple-century landmark. That game ended in a draw.

This is the fastest century in FC cricket by a New Zealand batsman.

Rutherford played 56 tests between 1985 and 1995 and scored 2465 runs in his test career.

3. Snehal Kauthankar – 205 balls vs Arunachal Pradesh, Porvorim, 2025

In the historic Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game between Goa and Arunachal Pradesh in Porvorim, Snehal Kauthankar made history by slamming the third-fastest triple century in FC cricket.

He reached the landmark off 205 balls and finished with an unbeaten 314 off 215 balls. His innings included 45 fours and four sixes. Snehal added a record 606-run for the third wicket with Kashyap Bakle (300* off 269) as Goa won by an innings and 551 runs.

2. Marco Marais – 191 balls vs Eastern Province, East London, 2017

There are only two instances when a batter recorded a triple century in FC cricket in fewer than 200 balls. The first instance was when South Africa’s Marco Marais, who was playing for Border against Eastern Province during the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup 2017, notched up his triple hundred in 191 balls.

Batting at No. 6, he scored an unbeaten 300 off 191 balls, with 35 fours and 13 sixes to power his team to 512/4 declared in 80.2 overs. With this, he made history by registered the fastest FC triple century by a South African batsman.

1. Tanmay Agarwal – 147 balls vs Arunachal Pradesh, Secunderabad, 2024

Scoring a triple century off less than 150 balls is one of the rarest moments in First Class cricket; so rare that it has happened only once!

Hyderabad’s Tanmay Agarwal holds the record for the fastest triple century in FC cricket. During the Ranji Trophy 2023/24 match against Arunachal Pradesh in Secunderabad in January 2024, Agarwal plundered a 147-ball triple hundred.

He made 366 runs off just 181 balls, with 34 fours and 26 sixes, at a strike rate of 202.20 to script history. Hyderabad won the game by an innings and 187 runs.

(All stats updated till 14th November, 2024)

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