One Day International (ODI) cricket's fastest century milestone is an outstanding feat with immense significance to the game. When a batsman scores a century in the shortest period of time imaginable, it not only highlights their great striking prowess but also has a variety of effects on the opposition and the pace of the match. It demoralizes the bowlers and puts stress on the opposition side, making their competitors with a sense of defeat while rendering it hard for them to restore their current pace.
In turn, this has a negative impact on their game and judgment on the field. It may drastically alter the outcome of the game, particularly when playing limited-over forms like ODIs. The team that bats become more certain, whereas the opposition's tactics and skills may begin to be questioned.
A quick century enables the batting side to set an impossible goal for the opposition to reach. As a result, opponents are under tremendous pressure at the start of each inning. The more difficult it is for the opponent to win, the more mentally and strategically demanding it is for them to do so.
List of Fastest Century in ODI History
Performers like AB de Villiers, Shaheed Afridi, and many more have scored the quickest hundreds in ODIs. So, let’s check out of the players who made the fastest century in ODI:
1. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers, a former batter of South Africa, is standing at the top position for making the fastest century in ODI. He made this feat in 31 balls while performing against West Indies at Johannesburg in 2015. West Indies went to South Africa to play 5 ODI matches series in the month of January 2015. During the 2nd ODI, SA faced West Indies where Windies won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first. While batting first, South Africa got an outstanding start and added 247 runs for the first wicket. Then AB de Villiers at the number 3 position played an extraordinary innings of 149 runs from just 44 balls by hitting nine 4s and sixteen 6s. Ultimately, South Africa added a huge total of 439 and in reply, West Indies could make only 291 runs and lost the match by 148 runs. AB de Villiers was named Man of the Match in that game.
Born on Feb 17, 1984, he made his ODI debut against England at Mangaung Oval on Feb 02, 2005, and he played his last ODI against India at SuperSport Park on Feb 16, 2018. Overall, he appeared in 228 ODIs where he added 9577 runs with 25 hundreds and 53 fifties.
2. Corey Anderson
Corey Anderson, a former New Zealand all-rounder, holds the 2nd position in the list of making the fastest century in ODI. He achieved this incredible feat in just 36 balls while playing against West Indies at Queenstown in 2014. West Indies went to New Zealand in order to play 5 ODI matches series in the month of December/January 2014. When West Indies and New Zealand faced each other for the 3rd ODI in Queenstown, West Indies invited New Zealand to bat first. While batting first, New Zealand did not get a good start but one of its openers made a century and Corey Anderson at number 5th position added the fastest century of his career which helped them to reach a total of 283. Corey Anderson added a total of unbeaten 131 runs in just 47 balls. In reply, West Indies could not chase the target successfully and lost the match by 159 runs.
Born on Dec 13, 1990, Corey Anderson started his international career in ODI against England at Sophia Gardens on Jun 16, 2013, and he played his last ODI against Bangladesh at Sophia Gardens on Jun 09, 2017. He made his appearance in 49 One Day Internationals and added 1109 runs with one century and four fifties at a strike rate of 108.73.
3. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, a former all-round performer of Pakistan, is sitting at the number 3rd position for hitting the fastest century in ODI. He made the fastest hundred of his career in an ODI while playing against Sri Lanka at Nairobi in 1996. In the event of the KCA Centenary Tournament in 1996, Sri Lanka and Pakistan faced each other for the 6th encounter on October 04 in Nairobi where while batting first Pakistan put a huge total of 371 runs on the scoreboard. Shahid Afridi who came at the number 3 position made an excellent effort and added 102 runs from just 40 balls, thus creating his career’s fastest century in ODI, and that in turn helped Pakistan to cross the 300+ milestone. In reply, the entire Sri Lanka squad was bowled out at 289 and lost the match by 82 runs.
Born on Mar 01, 1980, Shahid Afridi was known for his power-hitting and quickly-making runs capabilities. He made his ODI debut in a match against Kenya at Aga Khan Sports Club Ground on Oct 02 in 1996 and his last ODI was against Australia at Adelaide Oval on Mar 20, 2015. Overall, Shahid Afridi made his contribution in 398 ODI where he added 8064 runs with 6 centuries and 39 fifties at a strike rate of 117.01. In the bowling department, he took almost 400 wickets in his ODI career.
4. Asif Khan
Asif Khan, a batter of the UAE cricket team, is holding the 4th position in the array of fastest century in ODI. He made this feat in 41 balls while playing against Nepal at Kirtipur in 2023. In the event of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League running from 2019 to 2023, the United Arab Emirates and Nepal met each other for playing the 140th match at Kirtipur on 16 March 2023 where UAE decided to bat first after winning the toss and added 310 runs on the scoreboard. Asif Khan who came at number 7 place made an incredible effort and added the fastest century of his career in ODI which also helped them to cross 300 runs. In reply, Nepal made 269 runs in 44 overs and they were declared a winner as per the DLS method. Despite UAE losing the match, Asif Khan was named Man of the Match because of his incredible performance with the bat.
Born on 15 Feb 1990, he made his ODI debut against Oman at ICC Academy Ground on Mar 05, 2022. As of May 2023, he has played 23 ODI and added 815 runs with 2 hundred and 5 fifties at a strike rate of 86.79.
5. Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher, a former South African wicketkeeper-batter, is standing at the number 5th position for making the fastest century in ODI, He achieved this feat in just 44 balls while playing against Zimbabwe at Potchefstroom in 2006. Zimbabwe was on a tour of South Africa and both of them met each other for the 3rd ODI at Potchefstroom on September 20, 2006. The south African captain went for the batting first after winning the toss and added a huge total of 418 runs on the scoreboard. South African batter Mark Boucher made an excellent effort by hitting unbeaten 147 runs in just 68 balls that helped them to cross the milestone of 400. In reply, Zimbabwe could make 247 and lost the match by 171 runs. Mark Boucher was named Man of the Match and also declared as the Man of the Series.
Born on Dec 03, 1976, Mark Boucher made his ODI debut against New Zealand at W.A.C.A. Ground on Jan 16, 1998, and he appeared in his last ODI against Australia at Kingsmead on Oct 28, 2011. In his overall ODI career, he played 295 matches and contributed 4686 runs with 1 century and 26 fifties at a strike rate of 84.77.