The introduction of T20 cricket has brought many changes to the other two formats as well. Batters tend to score runs quicker than earlier. As a result, 400-plus run totals in ODI cricket are becoming more common. It has made the 300-run target in 50-over cricket easier to achieve. However, the hitting ability of modern-day batters has also improved.
The effect of T20 cricket has helped the batter score quick runs and score quick hundreds in ODIs and Tests as well. Interestingly, the fastest international century came in the 50-over format. And here we will go through the fastest centuries scored in ODI cricket in the history of the game.
List of Fastest Hundred in ODI
| Batter | Balls | Score | 6s | 4s | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 31 | 149 (44) | 16 | 9 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 18/01/2015 |
| Corey Anderson (NZ) | 36 | 131* (47) | 14 | 6 | West Indies | Queenstown | 01/01/2014 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 37 | 102 (40) | 11 | 6 | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 04/10/1996 |
| Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | 40 | 106 (44) | 8 | 9 | Netherlands | Delhi | 25/10/2023 |
| Mark Boucher (SA) | 44 | 147* (68) | 10 | 8 | Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 20/09/2006 |
| Brain Lara (WI) | 45 | 117 (62) | 4 | 18 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 09/10/1999 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 45 | 102 (46) | 9 | 10 | India | Kanpur | 15/04/2005 |
| Jesse Ryder (NZ) | 46 | 104 (51) | 5 | 12 | West Indies | Queenstown | 01/01/2014 |
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 46 | 116* (52) | 8 | 10 | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 20/11/2015 |
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 47 | 162* (70) | 14 | 7 | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 17/06/2022 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 48 | 134 (65) | 11 | 11 | Pakistan | Singapore | 02/04/1996 |
5. Brain Lara – 45 balls vs Bangladesh in 1999
Well, a traditional cricket player can also be a dasher when the situation calls for it. That’s what happened when Brain Lara stepped on the field on October 9, 1999, against Bangladesh in Dhaka. The left-hander has a very calm and composed nature, but in his early days, he used to play aggressive cricket. Lara scored the fifth fastest ODI century off just 45 balls and made 62-ball 117 with 18 fours and four sixes. West Indies made 314/6 and dismissed Bangladesh for 205 to win the game by 109 runs.
4. Mark Boucher – 44 balls vs Zimbabwe in 2006
The former South African wicketkeeper was a naturally aggressive batter who played as the team’s finisher. He scored the fourth-fastest ODI century in September 2006 at Potchefstroom against Zimbabwe. Batting first, South Africa got off to a great start with Loots Bosman (88), Alviro Petersen (80), and skipper Jacques Kallis (50) scoring half-centuries. But Boucher just took the game away with a 44-ball century. He hit an unbeaten 147 off 68 balls, with eight fours and ten sixes, to help his team reach a massive total of 418/5. In reply, Zimbabwe scored 247/4 and lost the game by 171 runs.
3. Shahid Afridi – 37 balls vs Sri Lanka in 1996
Years before the inception of T20 cricket, Shahid Afridi used to play in that fashion. He caught the attention of the world with a 37-ball century in his early days. Afridi played this knock against Sri Lanka in October 1996. Batting first, Pakistan scored a massive 371/9 in their first inning. Skipper Saeed Anwar made 115 off 120, while Afridi scored a 37-ball century. He made 102 off 40 balls with six fours and 11 sixes. In reply, Sri Lanka made 289 runs and lost the game by 82 runs.
2. Corey Anderson – 36 balls vs West Indies in 2014
Shahid Afridi’s record of the fastest ODI century (37 balls) was broken by New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson on January 1, 2014, when New Zealand locked horns with the West Indies at Queenstown. That game was shortened to 21 overs per side due to rain. And New Zealand scored a mammoth score of 283/4 in just 21 overs. Opener Jesse Ryder scored a 46-ball century and made 104 off 51 and even quicker Anderson smashed a 36-ball century. He made 131* off just 47 balls, with 6 fours and 14 sixes. In reply, West Indies only scored 124/5 and lost the game by 159 runs.
1. AB de Villiers – 31 balls vs West Indies in 2015
Corey Anderson’s record for the fastest ODI century was broken a year later by one of the game’s most unconventional batters, AB de Villiers. The former South African legend smashed the fastest international century off just 31 balls in January 2015. He scored it against the West Indies, when South Africa posted their highest ODI total of 439/2. Both openers, Hashim Amla (153) and Rilee Rossouw (128), scored centuries, but then De Villiers scored a 31-ball century. He made 149 off 44 balls, with 9 fours and 16 sixes. In reply, West Indies scored 291/7 and lost the game by 148 runs.