Thread by @ovshake42

On this day, 1931, Don Bradman did something at Blackheath that seems unthinkable even by his standards.

He slammed a hundred in 18 minutes, inside three overs.

True, these were eight-ball overs, but Bradman faced only 22 of these.
+

Blackheath had invited Bradman and Wendell Bill (colleague of Bradman's at NSW) to play for them against Lithgow.

A reasonably large crowd had gathered for the match, which was played on a malthoid pitch.

Bradman wrote: "I had never seen a pitch with a malthoid top.
+

"I'm still not sure if it was laid on a bitumen base or on concrete but it was perfectly flat and very smooth … The pitch proved ideal for batting in that the ball came off it at a gentle pace and with a particularly uniform and predictable bounce."
+

But then, "the batsmen had to wear rubber-soled boots or shoes" to avoid holes being created on the surface.

Bradman took guard against Bill Black, who had once dismissed Bradman.

He had made a big show of his achievement and even had the ball mounted.
+

Bradman himself had no memory of the dismissal, so he asked Lithgow wicketkeeper Leo Waters.

When Walters reminded him, he simply said "I think I'll have a go."

Black's over went for 66424461 – 33.

Bradman 33(8).
+

Having retained strike, Bradman now went after Horrie Baker: 64466464 – 40.

Bradman 73(16).

For some reason, Black bowled yet again.

Bill got a run, following which Black went for 661.

Bradman 86(19).

Bill faithfully returned strike again first ball.
+

Now 14 were needed off three balls, and Bradman went 446.

Bradman 100(22).

He eventually got 256 (29x4, 14x6 – exactly 200 in boundaries) and Bill 66.

And yet, Blackheath got only 357, though they bowled out Lithgow for 228.
+

When Blackheath Mayor Peter Sutton asked for the bat, Bradman responded "when I'm finished with it".

The bat didn't last the season. Bradman kept his promise.

Four days later Bill and Bradman fell prey to one of the greatest overs in cricket history.

But that is another story.