Top 10 Fastest centuries (by balls received) in Recognized cricket

Top 10 Fastest centuries (by balls received) in Recognized cricket: AB de Villiers demolished the fastest century record in ODIs recently. He scored his century off just 31 balls. Such kind of accomplishment is rare and has not occurred many times in history of Cricket. Here are some of such instances that have official validation from the ICC and the MCC. Here are the 10 Fastest Centuries in Recognized Cricket: 10. Scott Styris (Sussex) – 37 Balls (T20) vs. Gloucestershire Hove 2012 Gloucestershire managed to make 191 runs falling short by 39 runs.. (Photo Source : Getty Images) Sussex played Gloucestershire in the quarterfinal of Pro-fit T20 competition in England. Sussex batted first and after their openers falling cheaply, they started their comeback with help of Matt Prior (60) and Murray Goodwin (55). But they really got their motor running with Scott Styris, who came in around 12th over and hit a blistering century in just 37 balls which contained 9 sixes and 5 fours. Sussex made 230 runs in their 20 overs. Gloucestershire managed to make 191 runs falling short by 39 runs. 9. Yusuf Pathan (Rajasthan Royals)- 37 Balls (T20) vs. Mumbai Indians at Mumbai IPL 2009 He smashed 8 sixes in a 37 ball 100. (Photo Source: Indian Premier League) This was an innings which put Yusuf Pathan in the elite players list in IPL. Mumbai batted first in this match against Rajasthan Royals. They made an imposing 212 runs thanks to 50s from Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary. Rajasthan were 4-30 in the reply until Yusuf Pathan decided to crash the Mumbai party. He began flaying the Mumbai bowlers to all parts of the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. He smashed 8 sixes in a 37 ball 100. Rajasthan fell just 4 runs short, but Pathan had stamped his authority in IPL. 8. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 37 Balls (ODI) vs. Sri Lanka at Nairobi in 1996 He hit a then World record 11 sixes and reached 100 in 37 balls. (Photo Source: AFP) Shahid Afridi scored the then fastest hundred in One Day cricket batting for first time in his second ODI. He hit a then World record 11 sixes and reached 100 in 37 balls. Afridi made his debut in the previous match at the age of 16 years. This was his first time batting and he had borrowed a bat from Waqar Younis. 7. Graham Rose (Somerset) – 36 Balls (List A) vs. Devon Torquay in 1990 Rose completed his century in just 36 balls coming at number 5. (Photo Source: John Dawson) An all-rounder, Graham Rose scored the then fastest century in List A cricket against Devon in National Westminster Bank Trophy match in 1990. Rose completed his century in just 36 balls coming at number 5.He also made his 50 in just 16 balls, which was also a world record. Somerset made 413 runs in their allotted 60 overs. Devon could not chase and was bowled out for just 67 runs. Somerset won the match by record 346 runs. The Dutch all-rounder Roland Lefebvre took 7 wickets for 15 runs in Somerset’s bowling line up. 6. Corey Anderson (New Zealand) – 36 Balls (ODI) vs. West Indies Queenstown 2014 New Zealand won the match by 159 runs. (Photo Source : AFP) Corey Anderson began 2014 with a literal bang when he scored the then fastest hundred in 36 balls against West Indies. He along with Jesse Ryder, who himself scored a century in 46 balls, took New Zealand to 283 in 21 overs in a rain shorten match. Anderson also hit 14 sixes in his innings. It was the first time when two players had scored centuries in less than 50 balls in the same innings.New Zealand won the match by 159 runs. 5. LP van der Westhuizen (Namibia) – 35 Balls (T20) vs. Kenya at Namibia 2011 He scored his century in just 35 balls. (Photo Source: ICC) Westhuizen had scored the fastest century in T20 matches in an unofficial T20 against Kenya. Namibia scored 228 runs thanks to a blistering 145 runs off just 50 balls from Westhuizen. He scored his century in just 35 balls. Westhuizen took advantage of familiar conditions and belted the Kenyan bowlers to every part of the ground. His innings consisted of 14 fours and 12 sixes. 4. Andrew Symonds (Kent) – 34 Balls (T20) vs. Middlesex at Maidstone 2004 Symonds scored a total of 112 runs off just 43 balls. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Former Australian batsman Andrew Symonds made his entry in T20 in style. Playing in the England county matches, he also got to play the then new T20 format. Playing for Kent, Symonds scored a hundred in just 34 balls. Kent was chasing 155 runs made by Middlesex. Symonds scored a total of 112 runs off just 43 balls. Kent won the match in just 13.1 overs. 3. David Hookes (South Australia) – 34 Balls (First Class) vs. Victoria Adelaide 1983 Hookes hit 17 fours and 3 sixes in this innings, which is the fastest century in terms of balls faced in First Class cricket. (Photo Source: PA Photos) Late Australian batsman David Hookes the precursor to the modern big hitting batsman in international cricket. He was known for playing quick and carefree innings before it was norm. Victoria left South Australia 270 runs to make off 30 overs. Hookes frustrated by the late declaration from Victoria smashed 100 runs off 34 balls in just 55 minutes. South Australia made 128 runs in the first 10 overs but after the dismissal of Hookes for 107, South Australia’s chase derailed. Hookes hit 17 fours and 3 sixes in this innings, which is the fastest century in terms of balls faced in First Class cricket. 2. AB de Villiers (South Africa)- 31 Balls (ODI) vs. West Indies on Johannesburg 2015 AB de Villiers. (© Getty Images) AB de Villiers destroyed West Indies in a matter of just 11 overs and 40 minutes. His mayhem left an already bruised West Indies completely shattered. Riling from a 247 run opening stand, West Indies dismissed Rilee Russouw for 128 runs. In walked De Villiers who smashed 149 runs off just 44 balls. De Villiers hit 16 sixes and broke the World record for fastest fifty (16 balls) and fastest century (31 balls). His 31 ball hundred is the second fastest in recognized cricket. It is also the first score over 20 runs to be scored with the strike rate of over 300. 1. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 30 Balls (T20) vs. Pune Warrior, Bangalore IPL 2013 Chris Gayle scored 175* runs 66 balls with record 17 sixes and 13 fours. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The king of T20 cricket made mockery of bowlers in 2013 IPL against Pune Warriors in Bangalore. Chris Gayle scored 175* runs 66 balls with record 17 sixes and 13 fours. He reached his 100 in just 30 balls and Pune team had no answers for him. He scored with a strike rate of 265 which is another record in T20 cricket. The ball just kept sailing over the boundary no matter who the bowler was. Aaron Finch gave away 29 runs in his one over. Bangalore scored a record 263 runs and dismissed a listless Pune for 133 runs to win by 130 runs. (Also read Top 10 Highest Scores by teams in ODI) (All Stats Updated Till 19th October, 2015)