Wow, great topic and love reading the stories.
I made my only century two seasons ago, at the ripe old age of 33 and after 18 years of trying.
I was on holiday in Cornwall and we came back a day early because the weather was atrocious, it was a Friday afternoon and I text a few of our Saturday skippers and told them I was around if needed. Got a call from the 4th XI skipper an hour later saying I was in his team following a drop out. Lovely.
Turned up on the day, opened the batting and did my usual of dropping anchor, working ones and two's. Got dropped around 45-off and ended up making 101* batting through the full 52 overs. I remember the final over well, as I was (unknown to me) on 98 and the guy at the other end turned down a blatant single. Ended up hitting a 3 of the penultimate ball of the innings to get to three figures.
The best bit was I celebrated like it was a Test match, helmet off, arms aloft and soaking up the ripple of applause.
If I never do it again, I'll retire happy.
With the way I bat, I'll need at least 40 overs at the crease to get another one. I made 64 last weekend and was in for 36 overs.....