Top 10 Fastest centuries in ODIs

Top 10 Fastest centuries in ODIs: A century by any batsman is always very interesting to watch as a spectator (not as the opposition though). In ODI cricket, there two kinds of batsmen, one who is orthodox, plays the copybook shots and looks genuinely classy. But, the other kinds of batsmen are the ones who are highly unorthodox. They play with a devil-may-care attitude when at the crease. They don’t try to be flamboyant; all they care about is hitting huge sixes and score at a blistering strike rate. Also, with the flourish of the T20 cricket, batsmen’s have become even more adventurous and hardly spare a thought for the bowler when they decide to launch an attack at the opposition. Such entertaining knocks from these dashing batsmen always add more spice and flavor to the game of cricket. Here are the Top 10 Fastest centuries in ODIs: 10. Kevin O Brien (Ireland) – 50 balls: Kevin O’Brien. (Photo Source: Getty Images) On 2nd March, during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Ireland’s Kevin O’ Brien played a magical innings of 113 off just 63 deliveries at Bangalore against England. Chasing a challenging target of 327 to win, he wrote his name in the history books by smashing a century in just 50 balls. Thus becoming the fastest to score a century in World Cup history. His entertaining knock helped Ireland clinch a famous victory against Test playing nation. The aggressive middle order batting all-rounder’s innings was studded with 6 sixes and 13 boundaries. Kevin is currently the vice-captain of Ireland cricket team. Also Read – Top 10 fastest centuries in T20 Internationals 9. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 48 balls: Sanath Jayasuriya. (Photo Source: Getty Images) “The Matara Mauler” is recognized as one of the greatest ODI players of all time. A very powerful striker of the ball, Jayasuriya opened the innings for Sri Lanka and gave flying starts. In 1996 after a victorious World Cup campaign, he continued his outstanding batting form. He bashed the Pakistan bowling attack comprising of Waqar Younis, Mohammed Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq and Aaquib Javed in the very first match of the 1996 Singer Cup in Singapore. Jayasuriya faced no problems in squashing the Pakistan bowling attack and reached his century in just 48 balls. He whacked 11 sixes and 11 fours and ended with 134 runs off 65 deliveries in that match which Sri Lanka won by 34 runs. 8. Jos Buttler (England) – 46 balls: Jos Buttler. (© Getty Images) Jos Buttler is the latest batting hope for England. An innovative ODI batsman, he looks up to AB de Villiers as his batting inspiration and looks committed to fulfilling his role in the English team. On 20th November 2015, in the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Dubai, Buttler smashed a 46-ball hundred. It was the third century of his career and also the fastest for England. This fantastic knock included 8 sixes and 10 boundaries. The next two fastest for England are also registered in his name. A 61 balls hundred versus New Zealand and 66 balls hundreds versus Sri Lanka. 7. Jesse Ryder (New Zealand) – 46 balls: Jesse Ryder (Photo Source: Associated Press) Jesse Ryder made a comeback to the Kiwi side after serving a ban for consuming banned substances. And, his comeback was a memorable one as he cracked the seventh fastest century in ODI cricket against West Indies. He achieved this feat in the same match Corey Anderson broke the long-standing record of the fastest century by Shahid Afridi. The match was reduced to a 21 overs a side contest and Ryder immediately began playing aggressively and reached his century in just 46 balls. He finished his innings at the score of 104 runs off 51 balls which included 5 sixes and 12 boundaries. 6. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 45 balls: Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: AFP) Shahid Afridi once again proved that why he is the master of chaos on the cricket field. Every strategy is rendered meaningless when he gets going with his bat. The venue was Kanpur and the occasion was the 5th ODI of the India- Pakistan series, 2004/05. Afridi opened the innings to chase the target of 250 set by India. Soon, it was carnage time. He launched an assault on the Indian bowlers from the very first over. Hammered sixes and four and showed no mercy to the Indian bowler. Lala got to his quick-fire century in 45 deliveries and led Pakistan to a 5-wicket victory. This splendid innings included 9 sixes and 10 fours. 5. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 45 balls: Brian Lara. (© Getty Images) It was a magical inning from Brian Lara. This 45-ball whirlwind century was the second fastest century at that time. Lara’s ton came against Bangladesh at Dhaka. He opened the innings in the 2nd ODI of the bilateral series. As the innings progressed, Lara looked unstoppable and soon reached his century in just 45 balls. He hit 3 sixes and 19 fours in the glittering innings. The Bangladeshi bowlers looked helpless and the captain Animul Islam clueless. He achieved another feat the same day as he joined the 6000 runs club when at the score of 17. 4. Mark Boucher (South Africa) – 44 balls: Mark Boucher. (Photo Source: AFP) Mark Boucher was the chief destroyer when Zimbabwe met South Africa at Johannesburg to play the 3rd ODI of the four-match series. Boucher came in, to bat at number four and had a very good platform set for him after convincing half-centuries from the openers. Boucher soon set fire on the field with his brutal display of power as he cracked a 44-ball century and finished his innings with 147 off just 68 balls. It the first century of Mark Boucher’s career which came in his 220th ODI! Well, nevertheless, the wait for him worth for him. 3. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 37 balls: Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: AFP) Shahid Afridi was just 16-year-old when he set an unbelievable batting record. The leg-spinning all-rounder set the record for the fastest ODI century which stood the test of time for 17 years until it was broken in 2014. On 4 October 1996, in just his second ODI of his career and his first international innings, Afridi thrashed the Sri Lankans at Nairobi to score a 37-ball century. He struck 11 sixes and 6 boundaries in that innings of 102 off 40 balls. With this awesome inning, “Boom Boom” Afridi formally announcement his arrival in the cricketing world. 2. Corey Anderson (New Zealand) – 36 balls: Corey Anderson. (Photo Source: AFP) On the New Year’s day in 2014, Corey Anderson broke the 17-year-old record of the fastest century held by Shahid Afridi. In the 3rd ODI at Queenstown against visitors West Indies, Anderson came into bat at number five and launched an unexpected assault on the Windies bowlers. He smashed a 36-ball century to beat the previous best by Shahid Afridi. It was an extraordinary inning which was studded with 14 massive sixes and 6 boundaries. Corey Anderson finished at the score of 131 off just 47 deliveries as the Kiwis won the match by 159 runs. 1. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 31 balls: AB de Villiers. (© Getty Images) AB de Villiers is a modern batting genius. He is currently at the peak of his batting prowess and looks unstoppable when in full flow. He is a marvelous player who has given many breathtaking performances in the past few years. Just about a year after Corey Anderson broke Shahid Afridi’s record of the fastest century with a splendid 36-ball knock, AB de Villiers displayed an ODI masterpiece against West Indies in Johannesburg. It was a complete dominance by AB de Villiers that day as no West bowlers were spared and got thrashed to all corners. He clobbered 16 sixes in his breathtaking innings and played all kinds of unorthodox shots one can imagine. The pull, scoops, and slogs gave a torrid time to the young West Indies captain Jason Holder in managing his helpless bowlers. De Villiers reached his century in just 31 balls and played a knock of 149 runs off just 44 deliveries. Also Read – Top 10 Fastest centuries (by balls received) in Recognized cricket (All Stats Updated Till 28th November 2015)

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Top 10 Fastest centuries in ODIs

4. Mark Boucher (South Africa) – 44 balls:

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