Ealham wins award for season's fastest hundred

Mark Ealham's whirlwind hundred, scored off just 45 balls for Nottinghamshire against MCC in the season opener way back on April 16 at Lord's, has won him the Walter Lawrence Trophy for 2006.

Ealham smashed 11 fours and seven sixes in his century, which was scored in the traditional opening first-class fixture between Nottinghamshire, the champion county and MCC, making it the fastest-ever hundred from balls faced and non-contrived bowling, in history of the competition. Ealham, 37, who played in 8 Tests and 64 ODIs for his country, will be presented with the Walter Lawrence Trophy and a cheque for £5000 at a special lunch in the Long Room at Lord's on November 2.

Mark Pettini of Essex hit an unbelievably fast hundred off a mere 27 balls against Leicestershire on September 23, the final day of the Championship, but this was scored off joke bowling and is therefore considered invalid for the award. Pettini's century included 11 fours and 10 sixes, but it was achieved from 9.4 overs of what the competition organizers described as "dross" from Leicestershire's opening batsman, Darren Robinson, and wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon, to induce an early declaration.