Top 10 fastest centuries in T20 Internationals

Top 10 fastest centuries in T20 Internationals: Smashing a century is not a piece of cake for a batsman in any format. And in it is an even uphill task in the T20 format. While a ton is considered a match winning knock in the ODIs and many a time is enough to guarantee the side a win, the T20Is have also witnessed some power hitting courtesy the flamboyance of the batsmen. Scoring a hundred is a commendable proposition here as you do not have the time to settle in. You have to play the shots right from the outset and dominate the bowling. Here we take a look at Top 10 fastest centuries in T20 Internationals: 10. Tillakaratne Dilshan – 55 balls vs Aus, 2011 Tillakaratne Dilshan. (© Getty Images) The then Sri Lankan limited overs captain Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a compelling century and marshaled his team to secure a 35-run victory over Australia. The game was played in Pallekele and the hosts were looking to get somewhere near 150 before Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis went berserk in the final overs to take the score to 198. Australia in reply fell short by 35 runs. 9. Mohammad Shahzad – 52 balls v Zim, 2016 (Photo Source: Facebook) Team wants to finish every series on a high and if it is the chance to clean sweep the opposition that becomes even a sweeter feat. Afghanistan also had the chance to beat Zimbabwe in the 2nd T20I and complete a 2-0 series win and their opener Mohammad Shahzad came out to bat keeping the team’s intentions in mind and batted like never before. Shahzad hit one of the fastest T20I hundreds as he crossed into triple figures with the 52nd ball of his innings. He was there when the first ball was bowled and carried his bat through even as their batting quota ended. Shahzad played a special knock during which he clearly and completely dominated the Zimbabwe bowlers toying them for 8 sixes and 10 fours during his unbeaten stay worth 118 runs. 8. Brendon McCullum – 51 balls vs Ban, 2012 Brendon McCullum. (© Getty Images) The ton from the Kiwi dasher came in the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka. He hit 11 fours and seven sixes on his way to a fabulous hundred. He eventually finished his innings on 123. The Bangladeshi team didn’t even come close and lost the match comprehensively. 7. Brendon McCullum – 50 balls vs Aus, 2010 Brendon McCullum. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The mighty destructor features in the list again, this time at number five. Playing against Australia in 2010 at Christchurch he hit 8 majestic sixes on his way to a century off just 50 balls. The match ended in a tie and the Kiwis won the one-over eliminator. 6. Chris Gayle – 50 balls vs SA, 2007 Chris Gayle. (© Getty Images) This was the first match in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007. Gayle took the South African bowlers for a ride and scored a ton off 50 balls. He is thus he joint number fifth along with McCullum. West Indies though lost the match, but Gayle’s knock was one to savour. 5. Glenn Maxwell – 49 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2016 Australian Glenn Maxwell. (Photo credit STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images) Glenn Maxwell had to prove more than one thing when he was picked for the T20Is against Sri Lanka. Prior to that, he wasn’t considered by the selectors for the ODI series and he was definitely hurt. Maxwell was promoted to open the inning in his comeback game and he had skipper David Warner for the company. The duo started off like they were expected, with Maxwell playing some crisp cover drives whereas Warner focused on the more conventional sweep shot approach. He fell soon but Maxi continued and kept attack the Sri Lankan bowlers one after the other, whosoever was introduced by skipper Dinesh Chandimal. He soon got to his fifty, and was the first fifty by an Aussie batsman opening the batting for the first time. He needed just 27 balls to get there. The momentum of the inning only grew as it progressed and literally no Sri Lankan on the night had an idea or a ball to dismiss Maxwell. He bypassed his best T20I score of 75 and soon the century was insights. He got to his maiden T20I ton off 49 balls with the help of 11 fours and 5 sixes. 4. Aaron Finch – 47 balls vs Eng, 2013 (© Getty Images) Finch eventually went on to score 156 runs a record in T20 internationals. Playing against England in what was considered a fun game the big built Aussie made the most of some lackluster English bowling. The home team tried hard and made 209 in reply only to lose by 39 runs. 3. Faf du Plessis – 46 balls vs WI, 2015 Faf du Plessis. (© GORDON HARNOLS/AFP/Getty Images) In the second game of the T20 series, Proteas skipper took the visitors bowling to the sword as he hit a fabulous 46 ball ton. He eventually made 119 and South Africa finished with 231 on the board. But much to his disappointment, Chris Gayle stole the show with a 41 ball 90 as Windies won in the final over by 4 wickets. 2. KL Rahul – 46 balls v WI, 2016: India batsman Lokesh Rahul. (Photo by JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) India played their first ever game in the United States and guess what? it’s a full-on entertainment from both the sides. Evin Lewis started the innings with a century for West Indies. Whereas, KL Rahul scored his maiden century for India with a six in just 46 balls, joint second fastest century. Rahul scored 110 runs off 51 balls with 12 fours & 5 sixes at a strike rate of 215.69. 1. Richard Levi – 45 balls vs NZ, 2012 Richard Levi. (© Getty Images) Levi played an innings which tormented the Kiwis at their home. He remained unbeaten on 117 and hit 13 hits over the fence which is an international record. He made full use of the short Hamilton boundaries as South Africa chased 174 with ease and 4 overs left. Also Read – Top 10 Fastest centuries (by balls received) in Recognized cricket (All Stats Updated Till 6th September 2016)