Top 3 fastest centuries in ODIs

If you think ODI Cricket cannot produce adrenalin rushes as the fast-paced T20s do, this article will prove you wrong. Hard-hitting during the final overs is very much a part of 50-over Cricket as it is of T20s. Here is a look back at some of the most enthralling innings by batters in ODI cricket. More specifically, here are the three fastest centuries in the history of the 50-over format.

3. Shahid Afridi – 100 off 37 deliveries

Back in 1996’s KCA Centenary Tournament, Sri Lanka faced Pakistan in the sixth ODI of the tournament. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first, a decision Pakistan accepted with all their heart. They rode on a century by opening batter and skipper Saeed Anwar and then were further helped by Shahid Afridi, who scored his first ODI century on that day. This was the very beginning of Afridi’s rise to the perfect power-hitter image. He slammed 102 off 40 balls but reached his century in the 37th ball he faced creating an ODI World record at that time. Pakistan bowled the Sri Lankans out for 289 and won the game by 82 runs.

2. Corey Anderson – 100 off 36 deliveries

On number two, we have New Zealand’s Corey Anderson, who broke Shahid Afridi’s record for the fastest ODI century that he held for eight long years. In 2014, West Indies tour of New Zealand, the two teams were forced to play a shortened game due to interruptions by rain. In 21 overs, the Kiwis managed to post 283/4 in 21 overs. Corey Anderson slammed 131 off just 47 deliveries, but he reached his hundred in just 36, creating a new ODI record. West Indies could only reach 124/5 in reply as New Zealand won the game by 159 runs. However, Anderson’s record would be broken within a year; read more to know how.

1.  AB de Villiers – 100 off 31 deliveries

On number one, the name does not surprise many. South Africa’s AB de Villiers is a white-ball expert; he has substantiated the same with his exceptional record across the limited-over formats in all forms of Cricket, franchise included. In the second ODI of 2015’s West Indies tour of South Africa, the Proteas humiliated the Windies scoring 439/2, giving them a ridiculous target to chase. AB de Villiers remained the star slamming 149 off just 44 deliveries as three South Africa batters registered centuries. De Villiers, however, reached his hundred in 31 deliveries breaking Corey Anderson’s record comfortably. Ultimately, West Indies could only manage 291/7 as the hosts won by a comfortable margin of 148 runs.