One-day international cricket is challenging, and scoring a century is no easy feat. Most batters start with smooth touches to settle in, build momentum, alter gears, cross the 50-run barrier, and fight through the “nervous nineties” to reach the magical three-digit score. Very few people, though, doubt the efficacy of these methods.
A match decided by a century. There have been centuries where the cause never won, so it’s not just your century. Since cricket is a team sport, success requires more than one player’s effort. While team efforts are often necessary, sometimes it just takes one player’s innings to seal the deal. Such centuries have been the fastest ones in history.
Imagine a situation where a ‘walking in’ batsman immediately begins smashing the opposing bowlers around the park and then quickly scores a century to put the game out of their reach. Your experience sounds like the epitome of power.
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
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On New Year’s Day 2014, New Zealand’s Corey Anderson got the second fastest ODI century against West Indies. He’s second in the ODI fastest centuries. In 36 balls, he scored 100 runs against the Windies. One hundred fifty-nine runs won the game by New Zealand. Anderson made 131 runs off 47 balls with 14 sixes and six fours at a strike rate of 278.72.
Each team played 21 overs. Anderson batted at number 5 with New Zealand on 84 runs. He helped New Zealand post 283 until the finish. Anderson would have scored many more runs if it were a full ODI match.
Shahid Afridi
In 1996, Shahid Afridi scored the fastest ODI century in 37 balls. It was his second One Day International, but he went on to great success with Pakistan. His erratic hitting hurt Sri Lanka. In that era, Afridi hit 11 sixes and six fours. He helped Pakistan win by 82 runs with his all-around performance. This particular inning from Afridi was ahead of its time. This inning was so violent that Anderson broke it almost 18 years later. Afridi’s inning set the standard for modern batting.
Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher, a vital South African golden generation member, scored a hundred in 44 balls. His innings of 8 fours and ten sixes set up a spectacular conclusion after the openers set the stage. Boucher scored 147 runs in 68 deliveries after reaching the century in 44. South Africa scored 418. Zimbabwe lost 171 runs chasing this massive total.
Boucher is an unlikely candidate for the top 10 fastest ODI centuries. He was such a helpful batsman and team player that he used the platform set by the top order and slammed a quick-fire century to assist South Africa in reaching a 400+ score for the second time in 2006.
Brian Lara
In ODIs, Brian Lara has set many records. In 1999, he scored a century in 45 balls against Bangladesh. When others couldn’t bat, Shivnarine Chanderpaul encouraged him. The fifth fastest ODI century is his. In the same game, he took two wickets while conceding 12 runs. He scored 314 runs, which West Indies defended to win by 109 runs.
Lara’s inning had four 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.
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