With T20 cricket growing in stature around the world, batsmen have become more fearless as they look to play their strokes even in One day internationals and Test cricket.
This has meant more cameos, which has, in turn, increased the average runs notched up in a game. Some batters have scored hundreds in quick time to further display how T20s have impacted the overall sport.
We take a look at the fastest hundreds in ODI cricket.
AB de Villiers (31 balls vs West Indies, 2015)
AB de Villiers has the fastest century in cricket in the 50-over format, taking just 31 balls to achieve the feat back in 2015.
Playing at the Wanderers Stadium against West Indies, AB de Villiers of South Africa was at his most aggressive best as he plundered 149 runs in just 44 balls at a strike rate of an astonishing 338.63.
The innings helped South Africa post 439 for 2 on the board – the fourth-highest ODI score of all time. The hosts eventually won the game by 148 runs.
Corey Anderson (36 balls vs West Indies, 2014)
New Zealand’s Corey Anderson was one of the most aggressive players from his country and held the record for the fastest ton in the format till de Villiers broke the record a year later.
West Indies were on the receiving end as they saw Anderson smash a ton off just 36 deliveries against them during the third One Day International match in January 2014 in New Zealand. Led by the all-rounder’s fine knock of an unbeaten 131 in just 47 deliveries at a strike rate of nearing 279 (with the help of six fours and 14 huge sixes) the Kiwis posted 283 on the board.
Anderson was aided by Jesse Ryder at the other end, with the duo stitching together a stand of 191 runs for the fourth wicket.
New Zealand eventually won the game by 159 runs.
Also Read: Highest individual score in ODI cricket
Shahid Afridi (37 balls vs Sri Lanka, 1996)
Even before the advent of T20 cricket, Shahid Afridi showed the way in what remains of his best knocks in international cricket. Batting for the first time for Pakistan, Afridi scored one of the fastest centuries in cricket – a hundred in just 37 balls against Sri Lanka in the KCA Cenetary Tournament in Nairobi.
Batting with Saeed Anwar, Afridi hit six fours and as many as 11 maximums in his stay at the crease that allowed Pakistan to score 371 runs in their innings.
He eventually fell for 102 off 40 deliveries off the bowling of Sajeewa de Silva. It was also his maiden ODI century in cricket.
The target proved to be enough as Pakistan got the better of the Lankans by 82 runs as Afridi announced his arrival in style.
Mark Boucher (44 balls vs Zimbabwe, 2006)
One of the most aggressive players of his team, Mark Boucher entered record books when he scored the only international hundred of his career against Zimbabwe in 2006. And what a hundred it was!
Batting at number four, the batsman was at his best as he went on to smash his ton in just 44 deliveries. Ending the innings with an unbeaten 147 off 68 balls and a strike rate of over 216 (eight fours and ten sixes), Boucher ensured that the South Africans scored their second 400+ score of the year.
The team eventually won the game by a mammoth margin of 171 runs.
Brian Lara (45 balls vs Bangladesh, 1999)
Brian Lara is regarded as a true legend of the game for his penchant for scoring runs consistently in any condition. The player who has carved out his own place in Test cricket folklore was also an excellent ODI player and makes his presence in the list of fastest hundreds scored in the format at fifth spot.
Lara scored a quick ton off just 45 balls during the West Indies’ One Day International tour of Bangladesh way back in 1999 while opening the innings. He was just one of the two players from his team to score over 30 runs (Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 77) as his knock of 117 off 62 balls, with the help of 18 fours and four sixes (strike rate of 188.70) helped his side post 314 on the board.
His partnership with Chanderpaul helped the visiting team post 314 on the board, which proved to be 109 runs too many for the Bangladesh side.
