Tim David Reacts to Fulfilling Childhood Dream in Record-Breaking Fashion for Australia

Before his century against West Indies, Tim David's highest individual T20I score was 92 off 35 balls for Singapore, against Malaysia in 2020.

Tim David Reacts to Fulfilling Childhood Dream in Record-Breaking Fashion for Australia

Tim David scored a brilliant hundred off 37 balls, to help Australia defeat West Indies. (via ICC.com)

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Australian batter Tim David had a night to remember, as he notched up his maiden T20I hundred to help his team defeat West Indies by six wickets at Warner Park, St Kitts. After the match, David shared his excitement about the achievement, revealing how his childhood dream came true.

Tim David first rose to prominence in 2019, playing for Singapore in the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers. A hard-hitting middle-order batter, David quickly became him one of the most sought-after finishers. He subsequently switched his national allegiance to Australia in 2022. Across 56 T20I matches for both the countries he has played for, David has accumulated 1,303 runs at an average of 36.19 and an impressive strike rate of 166.63.

However, most of the runs he has scored have come from a lower batting position, typically at No. 6 or No. 7. Yet, against West Indies, Tim David seized the opportunity to showcase his full batting prowess in a tough chase of 215 runs. The home side, having elected to bat first, posted a formidable total of 214 runs, guided by a century from captain Shai Hope and a 62-run innings from Brandon King.

The Aussies got off to a decent start in their chase, with Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell propelling them to 30 runs after just two overs. However, a flurry of quick wickets, left the visitors struggling at 61/3. Tim David, coming out to bat at No. 5, then launched a relentless assault on the bowlers, hitting 11 sixes and six fours on his way to his maiden T20I hundred. He hit a boundary off the first ball of the 16th over, not only reaching his personal milestone but also securing Australia’s victory with 23 balls to spare.

Tim David’s brilliant century came off just 37 deliveries, at a strike rate of 275.68, as he also broke the record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Australian, surpassing teammate Josh Inglis‘s 43-ball century against Scotland last year. Speaking after the match, David expressed how memorable it was for him, admitting he never thought he would reach such a milestone given his low batting position in the lineup.

I don’t play for records, but certainly I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to score hundred and it is your childhood dream to score hundred for Australia.

While admitting that he does not play for records, the 29-year-old did relish fulfilling his childhood dream of scoring a hundred for Australia. He added that the feeling of scoring a century in a T20 match, was a completely new experience for him. Tim David further mentioned that his prior experience playing at Warner Park during the Caribbean Premier League proved beneficial in navigating the conditions:

The position I’ve been playing, I probably played a lot of T20 matches now and obviously I’ve never scored a hundred, so it was a little bit of foreign territory for me for a little bit.

Furthermore, Tim David credited teammate Mitchell Owen for his support during his innings, noting the all-rounder’s experience in scoring multiple centuries. Owen backed Tim David effectively from the other end, scoring 36 runs off just 16 balls himself, as the duo forged a 128-run partnership.

Tim David Reveals Using West Indian Legend’s Bat to Hit Record-Breaking T20I Century 

Australian finisher Tim David etched his name in record books during the third T20I against West Indies, becoming the fastest T20I centurion in country’s history. Surprisingly, the 29-year-old revealed that he smashed his maiden hundred, using a bat he had borrowed from a West Indian player.

Tim David use Andre Russell Bat
Tim David revealed that he used Andre Russell’s bat to hit his maiden T20I century, against Weest Indies. (via OneCricket)

The RCB star, after winning the Player of the Match award, disclosed that he has been using former West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell’s bat, which he has carried with him for more than a year. Interestingly, Russell had recently retired from international cricket in the second T20I of the very same series against Australia, held at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

Moreover, Tim David’s hundred also eclipsed an innings played by West Indies skipper Shai Hope. The wicket-keeper batter scored 102 runs off 57 balls, also recording his maiden T20I century, hitting eight boundaries and six maximums.