Fastest Centuries – Individual ODI Cricket Batting Records and Statistics

Cricket in one-day international matches is complex, and reaching a century is no simple task. Most hitters get off to an excellent start, gather momentum, shift gears, cross the 50-run threshold, and battle through the “nervous nineties” to reach the elusive three-digit total. But very few individuals question the effectiveness of these strategies.

A game won or lost by a century. It’s not only your century; there have been eras where the cause was unsuccessful. Cricket is a team sport. Therefore success necessitates the efforts of multiple players. Even though teamwork is frequently required, occasionally, a single player’s performance is all that is needed to win the game. The world has never seen centuries pass so quickly.

Imagine a scenario where a batsman “walking in” starts by destroying the opposing bowlers all over the field before swiftly scoring a century to put the game beyond their reach. Your experience is the height of strength.

In addition, this post will focus on the fastest centuries scored in One-Day International matches.

Balls Faced	Player	Team	Opposition	Venue	Date
31	AB de Villiers	South Africa	West Indies	Johannesburg	18 January 2015
36	Corey Anderson	New Zealand	West Indies	Queenstown Events Centre	1 January 2014
37	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	Nairobi Gymkhana Club	4 October 1996
44	Mark Boucher	South Africa	Zimbabwe	Senwes Park	20 September 2006
45	Brian Lara	West Indies	Bangladesh	Dhaka	9 October 1999
45	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	India	Kanpur	15 April 2005

AB de Villiers

This South African batsman scores ODI’s fastest century. He struck a century in 31 balls in the second ODI against the West Indies in Johannesburg, helping Proteas reach 439/2. By 148 runs, the team won. West Indians were demoralized by AB de Villiers’ sixteen sixes and nine fours. Using 44 balls, he scored 149 runs at a 338.63 strike rate. In the 39th over, AB de Villiers batted with SA at 247 for 1. With 11 overs remaining, nobody is anticipated to score a century. This inning was so harsh that De Villiers almost reached 150.

South Africa’s 400 in the 42nd over was unexpected. De Villiers’ harsh but methodical innings allowed SA to score 439 and crush the Windies’ chances.

Corey Anderson

The New Zealand batsman Corey Anderson scored the second fastest ODI century in 2014 when his team faced the West Indies. As far as ODI centuries go, he’s the second fastest. He got 100 runs off 36 balls while playing against the Windies. New Zealand triumphed with a total of 159 runs. Anderson hit 14 sixes and six fours and had a strike rate of 278.72. He got 131 runs off of 47 balls.

Both teams had 21 overs to bat. While New Zealand was at 84 runs, Anderson was batting fifth. Until the end, he contributed to New Zealand’s score of 283. Anderson would have scored many more runs if it had been a total ODI.

Shahid Afridi

The record for the fastest ODI century is held by Shahid Afridi, who did it in 1996 using 37 balls. It was only his second ODI, but he had a lot of success with Pakistan. His inconsistent hitting harmed Sri Lanka. Afridi scored 11 sixes and six fours throughout that time. Thanks to his superb play, Pakistan triumphed against India by an inning and 82 runs.

Afridi’s performance in this inning was revolutionary. Anderson broke the record for the most violent inning roughly 18 years after this one. The inning that Afridi had was a benchmark for modern batting.

Mark Boucher

Mark Boucher, the wicketkeeper, made a hundred in 44 balls. His innings of 8 fours and ten sixes followed the openers’ set-up for a magnificent finish. Boucher reached the century in 44 deliveries and scored 147 runs in 68. SA scored 418 runs. Zimbabwe fell by 171 runs in pursuit of this massive score.

Boucher’s inclusion on this list of ODI’s fastest centuries is surprising. He used the top-order stage to smash a quick-fire century to assist South Africa in registering a 400+ total for the second time in 2006.

Brian Lara

In 1999, Brain Lara scored a century in 45 balls against Bangladesh. When no one else could bat, Shivnarine Chander Paul supported him. ODI’s fifth fastest century. He took two wickets and gave up 12 runs in the same game. He helped the squad score 314 runs, which West Indies defended and won by 109 runs. Lara’s inning had fours instead of sixes. On his route to a 45-ball century, he hit 18 fours and four sixes. That is one of three 20th-century innings on this list. Lara finished the innings on 117 from 62 deliveries with a strike rate of over 190.