Cricket, one of the beloved sports of millions, has witnessed some extraordinary moments of record. One such record is the fastest century in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In this article, we dive into the thrilling world of cricket’s 10 fastest centuries in ODI, where batsmen showcase their explosive performance.
From cricketing legends of the past to modern-day stars, the list of players with the fastest ODI centuries is truly impressive. Their ability to take on the bowling attack with unmatched aggression has kept cricket fans amazed.
List of Fastest Century in ODI
Player | Runs | Century Balls | Match | Venue | Date |
AB de Villiers | 149 | 31 | South Africa v West Indies | Johannesburg | 18/01/2015 |
CJ Anderson | 131* | 36 | New Zealand v West Indies | Queenstown | 01/01/2014 |
Shahid Afridi | 102 | 37 | Pakistan v Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 04/10/1996 |
Asif Khan | 101* | 41 | UAE v Nepal | Kirtipur | 16/03/2023 |
MV Boucher | 147* | 44 | South Africa v Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 20/09/2006 |
BC Lara | 117 | 45 | West Indies v Bangladesh | Dhaka | 09/10/1999 |
Shahid Afridi | 102 | 45 | Pakistan v India | Kanpur | 15/04/2005 |
JD Ryder | 104 | 46 | New Zealand v West Indies | Queenstown | 01/01/2014 |
JC Buttler | 116* | 46 | England v Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 20/11/2015 |
JC Buttler | 162* | 47 | England v Netherlands | Amstelveen | 17/06/2022 |
AB de Villiers(31 Balls)
AB de Villiers, the South African batting maestro, is also known as the 360-degree hitter of cricket. His name is in the record books for scoring the fastest century in ODI cricket. On January 18, 2015, during a match against the West Indies in Johannesburg, de Villiers launched a spectacular record-reaching century in just 31 balls. He is also in the record book for the fastest 150 runs in ODI.
His innings were a masterclass in power-hitting as he smashed 149 runs an astonishing 16 sixes and 9 fours. De Villiers’ ability to find gaps and clear the boundaries at will left the opposition bowlers and the crowd stunned.
The innings showcased his extraordinary talent as one of the most innovative and destructive batsmen in the history of the game.
Corey Anderson(36 balls)
New Zealand’s all-rounder, Corey James Anderson, demonstrated his explosive batting on January 1, 2014, against the West Indies in Queenstown.
Anderson’s explosive strokeplay reached a century in just 36 balls. His innings include an impressive 14 sixes and 6 fours with 131* runs proving his ability to dismantle bowling attacks with ease.
Shahid Afridi(37 and 45 Balls)
Known as “Boom Boom Afridi” for his explosive hitting, Shahid Afridi wrote his name in the fastest century twice; on October 4, 1996, during a match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Nairobi. Afridi’s century just came off 37 balls showcasing his raw power and fearless attitude. He dispatched the bowlers to all corners of the ground with 11 sixes and 6 fours.
Shahid Afridi’s next fastest century came on April 15, 2005, against India in Kanpur. He smashed a century with just 45 balls. He made the record with 9 sixes and 10 fours.
Asif Khan(41 Balls)
Representing the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Asif Khan got into record books on March 16, 2023, during a match against Nepal in Kirtipur. Asif Khan got his century off 41 balls of calculated aggression.
With 11 sixes and 4 fours, he demonstrated remarkable hitting and an ability to pick the right deliveries to dispatch to the boundaries. This remarkable knock not only earned him recognition but also served as an example to the rising talent in Associate cricket.
MV Boucher(44 Balls)
Mark Verdon Boucher, the former South African wicketkeeper-batsman, played an unforgettable innings on September 20, 2006, against Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom. In a blazing display of batting, Boucher smashed an unbeaten 147 runs with a century off just 44 balls.
His innings were laced with 10 sixes and 8 fours, showcasing his ability to clear the ropes with ease. MV Boucher’s knock remains one of the most remarkable displays of power-hitting by a wicketkeeper-batsman in ODI history.
Brian Charles Lara(45 Balls)
Brian Charles Lara, the legendary West Indian batsman, also has one of the fastest century in the ODI. On October 9, 1999, during a match against Bangladesh in Dhaka, Lara completed a century in just 45 balls.
His innings featured 117 runs with 4 sixes and a remarkable 18 fours, highlighting his ability to find gaps with remarkable timing. Lara’s innings not only inspired cricket enthusiasts but also his status as one of the game’s all-time greats
JD Ryder(45 Balls)
Jesse Daniel Ryder, the New Zealand left-handed batsman, made the list of fastest century on January 1, 2014, against the West Indies in Queenstown.
Ryder’s innings with a century off 45 balls showcased his aggressive intent and ability to clear the boundary at will. With 104 runs with 9 sixes and 10 fours in total, he proved to be a destructive force, capable of changing the course of a match in a matter of a few overs.
Jos Buttler(46 & 47 Balls)
Jos Charles Buttler, the dynamic English wicketkeeper-batsman, played two remarkable innings that secured his place in the list of fastest centuries in ODI cricket. On November 20, 2015, in Dubai, Buttler played an unbeaten knock of 116 runs with a century on 46 balls against Pakistan. His innings featured 8 sixes and 10 fours, showcasing his ability to accelerate the scoring rate and finish innings with style.
Buttler repeated his heroics on June 17, 2022, against the Netherlands in Amstelveen, scoring an unbeaten 162 runs with a century off just 47 balls. He got 14 sixes and 7 fours, showing as one of the most explosive batsmen in the modern game.
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