The Fastest Hundreds in ODI have produced some of the most memorable moments in cricket, with batters combining power, timing, innovation, and fearless shot selection to change matches in a matter of minutes. The Fastest Hundreds in ODI also demonstrate how modern batting has evolved over the years. Several legendary players reached three figures at extraordinary speed, while some records remained untouched for long periods before being challenged by another explosive performance. From Shahid Afridi’s historic innings to AB de Villiers’ extraordinary 31-ball century, these performances remain important milestones in ODI cricket.
10. Jos Buttler
England’s Jos Buttler produced one of the Fastest Hundreds in ODI cricket during the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Dubai on 20 November 2015. Batting with an aggressive approach while chasing a substantial target, Buttler attacked the bowling from the middle and lower stages of the innings. He reached his century from just 46 deliveries and eventually finished unbeaten on 116 from 52 balls. His innings featured powerful sixes, innovative scoops, and well-timed drives, making it an outstanding example of modern white-ball batting.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler | 181 | 5,500+ | 116* | 46 | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 20 Nov 2015 |
9. Jesse Ryder
New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder secured his place among the Fastest Hundreds in ODI with a remarkable performance against the West Indies in Queenstown on 1 January 2014. Ryder immediately adopted an attacking style and prevented the opposition bowlers from establishing any control. He brought up his century in only 46 balls and finished the innings with 104 runs. His powerful boundary hitting and aggressive stroke play helped establish a strong platform for New Zealand and made the performance one of the quickest ODI centuries recorded by a New Zealand batter.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Ryder | 48 | 1,362 | 104 | 46 | West Indies | Queenstown | 1 Jan 2014 |
8. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi appears twice among the Fastest Hundreds in ODI, with this particular century coming against India in Kanpur on 15 April 2005. Known for his attacking approach, Afridi reached three figures in only 45 deliveries and finished with 102 runs. He consistently targeted boundaries and put pressure on the Indian bowling attack through powerful hitting. The innings reflected Afridi’s ability to change the pace of a match quickly and added another memorable century to his remarkable ODI career.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shahid Afridi | 398 | 8,064 | 102 | 45 | India | Kanpur | 15 Apr 2005 |
7. Brian Lara
Brian Lara is traditionally associated with elegant stroke play, but his innings against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 9 October 1999 also places him among the Fastest Hundreds in ODI. Lara completed his century in just 45 balls before ending his innings on 117 runs. His performance combined classical batting technique with aggressive scoring, as he found boundaries through powerful drives, cuts, and well-timed strokes. The innings demonstrated that rapid scoring could be achieved without sacrificing traditional batting skills.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Lara | 299 | 10,405 | 117 | 45 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 9 Oct 1999 |
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6. Mark Boucher
South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher delivered a powerful lower-order performance against Zimbabwe at Potchefstroom on 20 September 2006. His century came from only 44 balls, placing the innings among the Fastest Hundreds in ODI featured in this record list. Boucher eventually remained unbeaten on 147, helping South Africa build a massive total. His ability to accelerate late in the innings demonstrated the importance of lower-order power hitting and made the knock a notable performance in ODI cricket.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Boucher | 295 | 4,686 | 147* | 44 | Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 20 Sep 2006 |
5. Asif Khan
UAE batter Asif Khan produced one of the most notable Fastest Hundreds in ODI when he faced Nepal in Kirtipur on 16 March 2023. Khan reached his century in only 41 deliveries and remained unbeaten on 101. His aggressive boundary hitting continued throughout the innings, allowing him to maintain a rapid scoring rate while putting pressure on Nepal’s bowlers. The performance became an important moment for UAE cricket and showed how quickly an international ODI innings can change through sustained attacking batting.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asif Khan | 30+ | 900+ | 101* | 41 | Nepal | Kirtipur | 16 Mar 2023 |
4. Glenn Maxwell
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell produced an extraordinary century against the Netherlands during the 2023 ODI World Cup in Delhi. His hundred arrived in just 40 deliveries, placing the performance among the Fastest Hundreds in ODI. Maxwell used an inventive range of shots, including powerful sweeps, reverse shots, and huge sixes, to keep the Netherlands bowling attack under constant pressure. He finished with 106 runs, and his rapid century became one of the fastest hundreds ever recorded in an ODI World Cup match.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Maxwell | 140+ | 4,000+ | 106 | 40 | Netherlands | Delhi | 25 Oct 2023 |
3. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi’s 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in Nairobi on 4 October 1996 was one of the most significant milestones in the history of the Fastest Hundreds in ODI. Playing only his second ODI innings, Afridi launched an extraordinary assault and reached his hundred in just 37 deliveries. He scored 102 runs with 11 sixes and six fours, producing an innings that immediately attracted worldwide attention. The record remained the benchmark for almost 18 years before another batter eventually surpassed it.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shahid Afridi | 398 | 8,064 | 102 | 37 | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 4 Oct 1996 |
2. Corey Anderson
New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson broke the long-standing record for the Fastest Hundreds in ODI during his sensational innings against the West Indies in Queenstown on 1 January 2014. Anderson raced to three figures in only 36 deliveries and remained unbeaten on 131. His innings was built around powerful hitting and a relentless attacking approach that prevented the West Indies bowlers from settling into a rhythm.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Anderson | 49 | 1,104 | 131* | 36 | West Indies | Queenstown | 1 Jan 2014 |
1. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers occupies the record position in the Fastest Hundreds in ODI, reaching his century against the West Indies in Johannesburg on 18 January 2015 from only 31 deliveries. He continued his remarkable assault after reaching three figures and finished with 149 runs from 44 balls, including 16 sixes and nine fours. . The 31-ball century remains the defining record associated with rapid ODI hundreds.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Century Score | Balls for 100 | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB de Villiers | 228 | 9,577 | 149 | 31 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 18 Jan 2015 |
The Fastest Hundreds in ODI represent a combination of aggressive intent, exceptional timing, physical power, and the ability to take advantage of scoring opportunities. These innings often change the direction of a match within a short period because a batter can add a large number of runs while facing relatively few deliveries. The history of the Fastest Hundreds in ODI continues to provide a benchmark for explosive batting. l Future generations may challenge these records as ODI batting continues to evolve, but these performances remain important examples of aggressive and innovative cricket.
FAQs
1. Who holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket?
AB de Villiers holds the record highlighted in this list after reaching his century in only 31 balls against the West Indies in Johannesburg on 18 January 2015.
2. Was Shahid Afridi’s record century scored early in his career?
Yes. Afridi’s famous 37-ball hundred against Sri Lanka came in only his second ODI innings, making the performance particularly notable.
3. Which player scored a 40-ball ODI century at the 2023 World Cup?
Glenn Maxwell reached his century in 40 balls against the Netherlands in Delhi during the 2023 ODI World Cup. He finished with 106 runs.
4. Which wicketkeeper-batter features among these rapid ODI centuries?
Jos Buttler and Mark Boucher are both featured in the list. Buttler reached his century in 46 balls, while Boucher completed his hundred in 44 deliveries.