These batsmen treated the ODI like it was a T20 powerplay!
ODI cricket represents a unique mix of Test and T20 formats. Occasionally, batters adopt a T20 approach to deliver rapid innings, taking full advantage of favourable playing conditions that benefit batsmen. This has led to several impressive centuries being scored in remarkably few balls. Here, we’ll explore the fastest centuries ever achieved in ODI cricket.
Asif Khan delivered an extraordinary performance in the final match of the Cricket World Cup League 2 against Nepal in Kirtipur. Coming in at No. 7, he dramatically lifted UAE’s total from 175/5 to 310/6. After UAE lost their fifth wicket on 175 in the 38th over, Asif joined Vriitya Aravind at the crease. Initially scoring at a run-a-ball rate, he accelerated his innings starting from the 46th over. Asif hit 11 sixes, including four consecutive ones off Sandeep Lamichhane. He reached his fifty in just 30 balls and completed his hundred in the next 11 balls. His 41-ball century is the fastest by an associate batter in ODI cricket. Despite his unbeaten 101, UAE’s efforts were in vain as Nepal won the match via the DLS method.
Glenn Maxwell delivered a remarkable batting performance during the 2023 World Cup match against the Netherlands in Delhi, setting the record for the fastest century in ODI World Cup history. Batting at No. 6, the Australian all-rounder dismantled the Dutch bowlers in the final 11 overs. He began with a few boundaries and efficient strike rotation before unleashing his full power. With five overs remaining, Maxwell began scoring rapidly, reaching his fifty in just 27 balls. He completed his century in a swift 40 balls, finishing with a massive six. Maxwell’s 106-run innings came at an impressive strike rate of 240.9, featuring 9 fours and 8 sixes.
In a rain-affected match reduced to 21 overs per side, Corey Anderson delivered a breathtaking display of power hitting. New Zealand were at 84 for 3 when Anderson entered the fray. With 13 overs remaining, the Kiwis needed to set a formidable total, and Anderson, in partnership with Jesse Ryder, made it happen. After a few balls to adjust, the left-hander went on the offensive, punishing every bowler with a series of boundaries. Anderson reached fifty in just 20 balls and then accelerated to his century in a mere 16 balls. His aggressive knock was a game-changer, showing his explosive batting to all who watched.
South Africa’s AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, a feat he achieved against the West Indies in 2015. Coming in to bat on a solid platform set by openers Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw, de Villiers wasted no time, hitting a boundary on his very first ball. He then proceeded to demolish the West Indies bowlers with a barrage of boundaries. He reached his fifty in just 16 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty in ODIs. Unwilling to slow down, de Villiers raced to his century in only 31 balls, breaking Corey Anderson’s record. He was eventually dismissed for 149, including 9 fours and 16 sixes.
Every record here is extraordinary considering the fact it changed the very pace at which a 50-over cricket match is normally played. On top of that, these scores came because the player chose the team over their scoring!
