January 19, 2015
AB de Villiers smashed records on his way to the fastest century in ODI history in the 2nd ODI against West Indies at Wanderers in Johannesburg. The previous record for the fastest century was held by Corey Anderson of New Zealand who hit a century off 36 balls against West Indies in Queenstown.
January 19, 2015
AB de Villiers smashed records on his way to the fastest century in ODI history in the 2nd ODI against West Indies at Wanderers in Johannesburg. The previous record for the fastest century was held by Corey Anderson of New Zealand who hit a century off 36 balls against West Indies in Queenstown.
Here's a look at the evolution of the fastest hundred in ODIs and how it has been broken over the years.
Ken Wadsworth 92-ball hundred vs Australia at Christchurch, 31st March 1974
New Zealand's Ken Wadsworth started it all as he became the first batsman to score a century in less than 100 balls on 31 March 1974.
Against Australia, Wadsworth hit a century off 94 balls at Lancaster Park, Christchurch coming in at no.6. Australia had 265 in a 35-over match. In reply, the Kiwis were struggling at 70/4 when Wadsworth strode out to the crease. He hit 104 off 98 balls which included 16 fours. But his heroics went in vain as Australia won the match by 31 runs.
Majid Khan 88-ball hundred vs England in Nottingham, 31st August 1974
Wadsworth's record stood for just five months as Pakistan's Majid Khan, in only his second ODI, scored a 88-ball ton against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Majid hammered 16 fours and one six on his way to 109 off 93 balls and helped Pakistan chase down 245 with 43 balls to spare.
Clive Lloyd 82-ball hundred vs Australia in 1975 World Cup final at Lord's, 21 June 1975
The 'Super Cat' chose the big stage to break the fastest century record. In the World Cup final against Australia, Clive Lloyd strode out to the crease with West Indies struggling at 50/3 but soon he got into the groove and played one of the most memorable World Cup innings. 102 off 85 balls which included 12 fours and two sixes helped West Indies post a competitive 291. West Indies went on to win the match by 17 runs and Lloyd was named the player of the match.
Greg Chappell 80-ball hundred vs New Zealand at Sydney, 25th November 1980
It took five years for someone to break Lloyd's record. Greg Chappell hit an 80-ball ton against New Zealand as he powered Australia to 289 from 50 overs. Chappell hit ten fours and a six on his way to an unbeaten 138 from 109 balls. Chappell scalped a wicket too as Australia thumped the Kiwis by 94 runs. Chappell was named the Man of the Match.
Zaheer Abbas 76-ball hundred vs Sri Lanka in Lahore, 29th march 1982
Two years Later, Abbas broke Chappell's record as he hit a 76-ball ton against Sri lanka at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Abbas hit 123 of 87 balls which included 15 fours and three sixes and helped Pakistan post 239 from 40 overs in a rain-hit match. Pakistan, however, lost the match as Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis hit quick-fire half centuries to help Sri Lanka past the finish line.
Zaheer Abbas 72-ball hundred vs India in Multan, 17th December 1982
Nine months later, Abbas bettered his own record as he hit a 72-ball century against India at Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium, Multan. Abbas clobbered 10 fours and four sixes on his way to 118 off 86 balls to help Pakistan pile up 263 from 40 overs. India fell short by 37 runs despite Sandeep Patil's heroics of 60-ball 84.
Viv Richards 72-ball hundred vs India at Jamshedpur, 7 December 1983
Viv Richards equalled Abbas' record as he hit a whirlwind century against India at Keenan Stadium, Jamshedpur. A fantastic innings of 149 from 99 balls which included 20 fours and three sixes helped West Indies post a mammoth 333 from 50 overs. India fell short by a massive 104 runs and Richards was deservedly named the Man of the Match.
Mohammed Azharuddin 62-ball hundred vs New Zealand in Baroda, 17 December 1988
It took five years to break the 72-ball century record and finally an Indian got onto the scene and did it in style. Mohammed Azharuddin hit a cracking 62-ball century against New Zealand at Moti Bagh Stadium, Baroda and helped India chase down 279 after the hosts were in a difficult position at 118/4. An innings laced with ten fours and three sixes earned him the Man of the Match award.
Sanath Jayasuriya 48-ball hundred vs Pakistan in Singapore, 2 April, 1996
It took eight years to break Azharuddin's record. Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana had revolutionized ODI cricket during that time by going bang, bang right from the word go. On 2nd April, 1996, the crowd at the Padang stadium, Singapore were in for a treat as Jayasuriya hammered a 48-ball century against Pakistan. A massive 11 sixes and 11 fours were hit in a whirlwind innings of 134 off 65 balls which helped Sri Lanka post a mammoth 349. The Lankans won the match by 34 runs and Jayasuriya was named the Man of the Match.
Shahid Afridi 37-ball hundred vs Sri Lanka in Nairobi, 4 October 1996
Six months later, Shahid Afridi returned the favour to Sri Lanka. In just his second ODI, the bowling all-rounder Afridi smashed a 37-ball century to help Pakistan overpower the Lankans. He just went berserk at Gymkhana Club Ground and plundered 11 sixes and six fours on his way to 102 off 40 balls. Pakistan posted 371 from 50 overs and won the match by a comfortable margin of 82 runs. He was promoted up the order and batting in just his first innings, the youngster etched his name in the cricketing folklore.
Corey Anderson 36-ball hundred vs West Indies at Queenstown, 1 January 2014
It took 18 years for Afridi's record to be broken. And out of nowhere, Corey Anderson emerged and started 2014 with a bang. A 36-ball century against West Indies saw him hit six fours and fourteen sixes. In a rain-curtailed 21-over match, Anderson arrived to the crease in the 8th over and just went all out. He hammered 47-ball 131 to power New Zealand to 283. The Kiwis won the match by a big margin of 159 runs.
AB de Villiers 31-ball hundred vs West Indies in Johannesburg, 18 January 2015
It seemed as if Anderson's record would be difficult to beat. But there was one man who could have defied all odds – AB de Villiers. The superman from South Africa bettered Anderson's record and that too by five balls as he clobbered West Indies bowlers all over the New Wanderers Stadium. He smashed the record of fastest fifty (off 16 balls) and then the fastest century. He equalled the record of maximum sixes too – 16. A breathtaking innings of 149 from 44 balls was laced with nine fours and 16 sixes. Hashim Amla made a 142-ball 153, while Rilee Rossouw scored his maiden ODI ton (128 off 115 balls) in the same match but it was de Villiers who stole the thunder as he powered the hosts to their highest total in ODIs – 439. The Proteas won the match by 148 runs and de Villiers was named the Man of the Match.
Courtesy: Firstpost
