Hayden Meikle counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 130: Cairns smashes record 100 (1980)
But the big hitting all-rounder also played some pretty handy innings for Otago and is remembered fondly for one particularly withering assault.
The strapping inswing bowler smashed his maiden, and only, first-class 100 off just 45 balls, shredding the Wellington attack which included Ewen Chatfield - Mr Measley - and classy all-rounder Bruce Taylor.
In less than an hour - 52 minutes to be precise - Cairns swatted nine sixes and nine fours on his way to the milestone. He celebrated with two more fours before he was dismissed.
Percy Fender is credited with recording the quickest century - a mere 35 minutes - in 1920. However, Wisden does not record the number of balls faced. So Cairns' 45-ball effort was the fastest known century at the time.
Otago had slumped to 48 for eight before his brutal counterattack. Ultimately, though, it was not enough to save his side from defeat. Wellington won by 124 runs.
Whatever, you cannot help but admire the sequence of scoring shots: 1, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 2, 1, 1, 6, 4, 4, 6, 1, 6, 6, 2, 4, 6, 4, 1, 4, 2, 4, 6, 1, 6, 4, 4.
