ODI Records: Players with the fastest centuries in ODIs

There have been many players who have lit the international cricket stage on fire with their hard-hitting approach. Modern-day batters have gone on to defy logic with their hard-hitting skills and have managed to reach milestones like centuries in a space of just a few balls. The list of the fastest centuries in ODIs features some of the greatest strikers of the ball and rarely will it take you by surprise to see the names on this list.

Fastest centuries in ODIs

Player	Opposition	Total runs	Balls to Reach Century	Total sixes	Totals fours	Match Date
AB de Villiers (South Africa)	West Indies	149	31	16	9	18th January, 2015
Corey Anderson (New Zealand)	West Indies	131*	36	14	6	1st January, 2014
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	Sri Lanka	102	37	11	6	4th October, 1996
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)	Netherlands	106	40	8	9	25th October, 2023
Asif Khan (UAE)	Nepal	101*	41	11	4	16th March, 2023
Mark Boucher (South Africa)	Zimbabwe	147*	44	10	8	20th September, 2006
Brian Lara (West Indies)	Bangladesh	117	45	4	18	9th October, 1999
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	India	102	45	9	10	15th April, 2005
Jesse Ryder (New Zealand)	West Indies	104	46	5	12	1st January, 2014
Jos Buttler (England)	Pakistan	116*	46	8	10	20th November, 2015

• AB de Villiers (31 balls)

AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket. De Villiers smashed the fastest century against Jason Holder-led West Indies in 2015. Before de Villiers came to the party, South African openers, Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossuow had already smashed tons. Mr. 360 completed his century in just 31 balls overtaking Corey Anderson to smash the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket. The former South African cricketer scored 149 runs in 44 balls hitting nine fours and 16 sixes at a strike rate of 338.63. This was also the first time three centuries were scored in an innings.

• Corey Anderson (36 balls)

Corey Anderson smashed a century in 36 balls breaking Shahid Afridi’s 17-year-long record. Anderson’s was even more special as it came in a rain-affected 21 overs-per-side game. Anderson went on to remain unbeaten and scored 131 runs in 47 balls. The Kiwi batting all-rounder hit six fours and 14 sixes in his knock which ended with a strike-rate of 278.72.

• Shahid Afridi (37 balls)

Shahid Afridi playing just his second international match and batting for the first time in international cricket surprised everyone. The 16-year-old teenager smashed the record for the fastest century as he brought up his ton in just 37 balls. His century came against a formidable Sri Lankan bowling lineup consisting of the likes of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. In his innings, Afridi scored 102 runs in 40 balls hitting six fours and 11 sixes.

• Glenn Maxwell (40 balls)

Glenn Maxwell scored the fastest century in ODI World Cup history in 2023. The Australian all-rounder scored the record-breaking ton against the Netherlands in just 40 balls. Maxwell scored 106 runs in 44 balls hitting nine fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 240.90. His century left a big impact on the Netherlands team as they were bowled out for just 90 runs in the second innings losing the match by 309 runs.

• Asif Khan (41 balls)

United Aram Emirates middle-order batter, Asif Khan holds the record for the fifth fastest century in ODI cricket. He completed his ton while batting at number 7 in 41 balls. He remained not out and scored 101 runs in 42 balls hitting four fours and 11 sixes. His century went in vain as Nepal beat UAE by four wickets via the DLS method.

• Mark Boucher (44 balls)

Legendary South African wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher has the sixth fastest century. The South African batter scored his ton in 44 balls against Zimbabwe in 2006. Boucher batting at number four remained not out and scored 147 runs in 68 balls hitting eight fours and 10 sixes. South Africa won the match by 171 runs and won the three-match ODI series with a 3-0 margin.

• Brian Lara (45 balls)

The West Indian southpaw batter, Brian Lara has the seventh fastest century in ODIs. Lara was captaining the West Indies’ side during the West Indies tour of Bangladesh. Lara scored his hundred in just 45 balls. He scored 117 runs in 62 balls hitting 18 fours and four sixes before being dismissed by Habibul Bashar.

• Shahid Afridi (45 balls)

Shahid Afridi is the only batter to feature in this list twice. Afridi scored the joint seventh-fastest century in ODIs. He scored a century in 45 balls and was dismissed on the following delivery by Harbhajan Singh. Afridi scored 102 runs in 46 balls hitting 10 fours and nine sixes. 

• Jesse Ryder (46 balls)

In the same match when Corey Anderson scored the second-fastest century in ODI cricket, Jesse Ryder scored the ninth-fastest ODI hundred. Ryder scored his ton in 46 balls. The Kiwi opener scored 104 runs in 51 balls hitting 12 fours and five sixes and was dismissed by Jason Holder.

• Jos Buttler (46 balls)

After the aftermath of the 2015 ODI World Cup, the England team changed their style of play and one of the focus points was an aggressive style of batting. In the same year, Jos Buttler scored the joint ninth-fastest ton. Buttler remained not out and scored 116 runs in 52 balls hitting 10 fours and eight sixes.