by EZRA STUART

THIS YEAR was a record one for centuries in the Sagicor General Super Cup One-Day 50-overs Cricket Tournament.

Vonrick Nurse's century, his second in the competition, and highest score in a final, surpassing the 115 not out versus Empire by Wanderers' Mark Sealy - the only other century in a final - marked a record 13 in this year's tournament.

Previously, the most centuries scored in a single tournament, were 10 in 2007, followed by nine in 2006. Seven were scored in 2002 and last year, and six in 2004.

What is noticeable is that more batsmen have been scoring One-Day centuries these days with the round-robin format which guarantees players seven preliminary matches and a further three should their teams make it to the final.

In the early years, with the straight elimination format, batsmen had fewer opportunities unless their teams kept winning.

Amazingly, in the first two years of the competition, back in 1975 and 1976, YMPC's Trevor Campbell was the only batsman to score a century. He scored 107 against Central in the inaugural tournament and followed up with 101 versus YMCA - both at Beckles Road.

There were at least five other years when only one century was recorded. BCL's John Holder was the lone century-maker in 1980 with 101 versus the Combined Schools at Blenheim "A".

Derek Brereton of St John Cultural had the distinction of hitting the solitary century in 1989 when he made 105 not out against Conrad Hunte at the Gall Hill playing field.

Sealy's century in the 1993 final, was the only one that year as was Carlton's Jason Clarke's 118 against St Catherine at Bayfield in 1997.

Spartan's Philo Wallace's 125 not out against Empire at Bank Hall was also the lone hundred in 2000.

Wallace, the former Barbados captain and West Indies' hard-hitting opener holds the record for the most centuries in the tournament with five. He is followed by Empire's Alcindo Holder (4) and UWI's Romel Currency while St Catherine's Kenroy Williams has three, the first being 113 versus Police for the Combined Schools.

Carlton's Dale Richards is the only batsman to register a double century, racing to 202 not out against Banks at Black Rock in 2006.

There are five instances of batsmen scoring two centuries in the same season .

Wilbur Bruce scored a pair for Carlton in 1995 when he hammered 151 not out versus Banks at The Brewery and made 101 against Pickwick at Kensington Oval.

Wallace hit 139 against St Catherine and 118 versus Empire, both at Queen's Park in 2002 while Police's Stanton Proverbs pummelled 144 off Wanderers at Weymouth "A" and 126 off Banks at The Brewery in 2004.

YMPC's Dwayne Smith smashed 109 against Cable & Wireless at Wildey and a whirlwind even century off the St Catherine's bowlers at Beckles Road in 2006.

Currency made 110 against BCL at Blenheim "A" and 107 not out versus Police at Weymouth "A" in 2007.

This year, Holder hit 136 off LIME at Wildey and 102 versus Wanderers on neutral in the Pine Basin.

Surprisingly, UWI's coach/player Floyd Reifer, who also had a long association with LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless and BET) has never scored a Super Cup century, despite scoring many hundreds in the Division One competition.