Century
A score of 100 — of runs by a cricket batter, or of points in a single snooker visit.
Definition
In cricket, a century is an individual batter's innings of 100 or more runs, regarded as a landmark of batting achievement; scores of 200 or more are "double centuries," and being dismissed in the 90s is a well-known near-miss. Reaching a century is celebrated at the crease and recorded prominently in a player's statistics.
In snooker, a "century break" is 100 or more points scored in a single unbroken visit to the table, showcasing sustained potting and positional play. The word therefore signals the number 100 in both sports, but in cricket it counts runs accumulated across an innings, whereas in snooker it counts points made without missing in one visit.
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Cricket
- An individual batter's score of 100 or more runs in an innings.
- snooker
- A break, or single visit to the table, of 100 or more points without missing.
Where you’ll hear “century”
Sports that use this term:
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Follow the threads that connect Century to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Tactics
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
- Baseline playA patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.
- Breakaway and pelotonThe cycling tension between the main pack riding together and small groups that break clear to gain time.
Player roles
- PlaymakerThe playmaker is a team's creative hub — the player who orchestrates attacks, controls the tempo and distributes the ball so teammates can score.
- FinisherA finisher is the attacking outlet in a team sport whose main job is converting chances into points — the striker, goal shooter or go-to scorer.
- All-RounderAn all-rounder is a versatile player who contributes across attack and defence rather than specialising in a single phase, position, or skill.
- Ball-winnerA ball-winner is the player tasked with regaining possession through pressing, tackling and interceptions — a team's tireless defensive workhorse.
- AnchorThe anchor is a cross-sport holding role: a steadying, defensive-minded player who shields the back line, screens danger and gives teammates a reliable base.
Officiating
- UmpireA match official who rules on lines, serves and dismissals in racket, bat-and-ball and net sports such as tennis, cricket and baseball — and, in racket sports, also keeps the running score.
- ScorekeeperThe official who keeps the authoritative record of a contest — score, fouls, and statistics — usually seated at a scorer's table beside the timekeeper.
- TimekeeperThe timekeeper is the official who runs a contest's clock — starting and stopping time, timing rounds, races and periods, and signalling when time expires.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
Disciplines
- Sparring (Kyorugi)Kyorugi is taekwondo's competitive sparring discipline, where two athletes score points by landing controlled kicks and punches on legal target areas within timed rounds.
- Whitewater & CreekingWhitewater kayaking is the descent of moving rivers and rapids, with creeking focused on steep, technical drops and low-volume runs.
- Individual medleyThe individual medley (IM) combines all four strokes in a set order — butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, then freestyle — testing all-round swimming across a single event.
- ÉpéeÉpée is a fencing weapon with point-only touches valid anywhere on the body and no right-of-way, so both fencers can score at once.
- Top-Rope ClimbingA roped format where the rope runs up to an anchor at the top of the route and back down, so the climber is held from above throughout the ascent.
Beginner guides
- Your First Badminton SessionA warm, honest look at what your first time on a badminton court actually feels like — how a beginner session runs, what surprises newcomers about the shuttlecock, and how to enjoy it without worrying about keeping score.
- Your first football sessionA warm, practical picture of what actually happens when you turn up to your very first football session — how it runs, what surprises beginners, and how to enjoy it without any pressure.