Scoring fifty in a match is a fine achievement, but smashing a century in any game is the real milestone. Whether it is a T20I, or a fastest 100 in ODI, or Test, a century is considered a crucial knock by any batsman and also makes him eligible to grab the player of the match award.
While numerous players have scored hundreds in ODIs over the years, there are a few to have also slammed quickfire centuries. There were also some instances when batsmen replied in just boundaries and sixes to come up with a quickfire century in ODIs. Here we take a glance at the player who has hit the fastest century in ODIs.
1. AB de Villiers – Hundred off 31 balls vs. West Indies (2015)
AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in ODI. The former South Africa batter slammed a century off just 31 balls in an ODI match against West Indies in 2015.
During the West Indies tour of South Africa in January 2015, AB de Villiers became the fastest batsman to smash a hundred in ODIs. It was the 2nd ODI of the series between the West Indies and South Africa in Johannesburg.
West Indies won the toss in the match and chose to bat first. However, the visitors were unaware of the mammoth score that was going to be set by the home team. Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw opened the innings for the team.
Hashim Amla (153) and Rilee Rossouw (128) both slammed centuries to provide an impeccable start to the batting. They also paired up for a 247-run partnership for the opening wicket, astonishing fans around the world. However, the best of the match was yet to come.
After Rilee Rossouw got out, AB de Villiers arrived at the crease. Smashing sixes and boundaries since the first ball, the right-handed batsman kept the high run-rate alive. Soon he reached his half-century off just 16 balls. However, De Villiers wasn’t going to stop.
He soon reached 100 runs off just 31 deliveries and shattered all the previous records for the fastest century in ODIs. He did not stop even after his century and went on to hit 149 runs in the match off just 44 balls in the end.
During his innings, the wicketkeeper-batsman slammed 9 fours and 16 sixes. He registered a strike rate of 338.63 during his knock. With three centuries from the top three batters, South Africa reached a gigantic total of 439-2 on the scoreboard.
The visitors West Indies already knew that victory was far away from their hands. With half-centuries by Dwayne Smith (64) and Denesh Ramdin (57), West Indies could only reach 291-7 in the end and lost the match by 148 runs.
AB de Villiers, who scripted a new record in the ODIs for the fastest hundred, won the man of the match award in the match.
AB de Villiers scored the fastest ODI 50 in the same match
AB de Villiers not only broke the record of the fastest century in the match against West Indies, but he also registered the fastest ODI fifty. On his way to the fastest century, Villiers also scored a fifty of just 16 balls in the match to break the record of the fastest fifty. This record still stands in ODIs, and no one has managed to break it.
2. Corey Anderson and Shahid Afridi are next on the list of the fastest ODI hundred
Corey Anderson is the 2nd fastest batsman to smash a century in ODIs. In January 2014, the New Zealand batsman scored a hundred off just 36 balls in an ODI match against West Indies. He slammed 14 sixes and 6 fours during his knock. However, his record was broken by AB de Villiers just a year later.
Shahid Afridi has now moved to the 3rd spot in smashing the fastest century in ODIs. The former Pakistan skipper had shattered a hundred off just 37 balls in an ODI match against Sri Lanka in October 1996. Hence, he became the fastest batsman to score an ODI century then.
Afridi held the record for more than a decade until Corey Anderson broke his long-standing record of the fastest century in 2014. However, Anderson’s record was short-lived, as AB de Villiers outplayed his knock after 1 year.
Conclusion
AB de Villiers might have vanished from international cricket, but his record will still announce his name to everyone. Smashing a century off just 31 balls, the Proteas star proved to fans why he was termed Mr. 360. While this record might be broken in the future, it will take a lot of effort to surpass the record.
FAQs
1. Who has scored the fastest hundred in ODIs?
Ans: AB de Villiers has scored the fastest hundred in ODIs off 31 balls.
2. Against whom did AB de Villiers score his fastest ODI hundred?
Ans: AB de Villiers scored his fastest ODI hundred against West Indies in 2015.
3. How many boundaries and sixes did AB de Villiers score during his fastest ODI hundred?
Ans: AB de Villiers slammed 9 fours and 16 sixes during his knock of the fastest ODI hundred. He hit 149 runs in that match.
4. Who holds the record for 2nd fastest ODI hundred?
Ans: Corey Anderson, who hit a century off 36 balls in 2014, holds the record for the second-fastest ODI hundred.
5. When did AB de Villiers retire from international cricket?
Ans: AB de Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018.
