SOUTH AFRICAN SMASHES WORLD'S FASTEST 300... IN 191 BALLS!

Marco Marais clubbed 35 fours and 13 sixes during his remarkable innings

There's something in the water down in South Africa at present.

First, club cricketer Shane Dadswell spanked a remarkable 490 from 151 balls in a 50-over match to smash the previous highest score in minor, limited-overs cricket.

Now, less than a fortnight later, the fastest first-class triple century record has been beaten. And in some style.

Border batsman Marco Marais clubbed an astonishing 300 not out from just 191 balls while playing for Border against Eastern Province in the Sunfoil Three-Day Cup.

The astonishing knock came in the first innings of the match, after Eastern Province had chosen to field first in East London.

Initially, the decision seemed to be a good one as the visitors reduced their hosts to 84 for four in the 21st over. Then came the carnage.

Coming in at number six, Marais shared in a 428-run partnership with Bradley Williams for the fifth wicket that last a little under four-and-a-half hours.

Williams' unbeaten 113 from 174 balls - his maiden first-class ton - was positively snail-like by comparison as Marais went ballistic down the other end.

His 100 was reached in 68 balls and he moved onto the fastest double century ever made by a South African from 139, before storming on towards his extraordinary landmark.

In all, the 24-year-old - making just his 55th first-class innings - 35 fours and 13 sixes for an overall strike rate of 157. Border declared at 512 for four with Marais having destroyed the previous record, set by Australian Charles Macartney in 1921, by 30 deliveries.

Not bad from a Stutterheim farmer who drives more than 50 miles four times a week to East London for practice.

"I don't think anyone actually thinks they are going to get 300," Marais told The Daily Dispatch. 

"I am really happy but I don't think it has fully sunk in yet. I am just so tired now. I think it will eventually hit me later tonight.

"I was striking the ball so well. I decided that I was just going to go hard at them and it came off in the end.

"Batting with Bradley was really good. I said to him that he must just play his normal game and that I was going to try and be attacking from the start."

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