Top 5 fastest centuries in ODIs

ODIs have changed a lot over the years, coloured uniforms, White balls, Shorter boundaries, gigantic bats, powerplay and a lots of the things, the way cricketers used to play Cricket has also changed, Cricket is still considered as a game of gentleman but nowadays it seems to be with a lots of and sometimes with unwanted aggression. 

Whether it is bowlers bowling with aggression or fielders flying to stop runs or converting half chances to produce unlikely wickets or the batters milking runs in a quick fashion and smashing sixes in shortened boundaries, on need to admit that aggression is the key element in this game. 

In the past, it can be seen that how batsmen change the course of the tide by scoring quick runs and in the process of quick runs they also lose their wickets, but what if during this times of craziness, you achieve some great milestones, let just discuss top 5 fastest centuries scored in one day internationals:

Brian Charles Lara Vs Bangladesh at Dhaka, on 09/10/1999

Brian Lara is among those cricketer who were meant to break and create new Records, not only he created Records but also he was the match winner for his national team, he won many matches for his team with bat in his capable hands. 

This was the First year of Bangladesh in international Cricket, a touring West Indies team played a two match limited overs internationals in Biman Millenium Cup. 

In the 2nd match of the series,  West Indies were batting first, Lara opening the innings with Sherwin Campbell was looked at his aggressive best Lara (117)  scored a quick century, in just 45 balls, when he was dismissed West Indies score was 185/3 inside just 19.4 overs with 18 boundaries and 4 sixes, Lara scored most of his runs in boundaries and a big score looked imminent, but after Lara's dismissal West Indies Lost the innings pace and ultimately finished at 314/6 in 50 overs. 

Bangladesh tried to fightback but were allout for 205 with skipper Aminul Islam (66) scoring a valiant half-century and  Shahriar Hossain (47) played fighting innings for their team, West Indies won the match and the series 2-0.

Mark Boucher Vs Zimbabwe at Potchefstroom on 20/09/2006

Before his unfortunate exit from international cricket due to the eye injury, Mark had been the most important part of Proteas, not only he was a brilliant wicket keeper but also a reliable batsman and played some match winning knocks as a batsman as well. 

In 2006, Zimbabwe toured South Africa to play a 3 match Odi series, Zimbabwe which were once a famous team comprises of some finest cricketers of that time, was now a looked like a team (which is as put by some pundits then) of club standard. 

Zimbabwe were faced heavy defeats but the third and final ODI really crushed them,  South Africa elected to bat first both openers Loots Bosman (88) and Alviro Peterson (80) given a perfect start to the team, Captain Jacques Kallis (50) scored a half century, Boucher came at 2/199 and started attacking the Zimbabwe bowlers, in just 44 balls  Boucher (147*, 10 sixes and 8 boundaries) broke Lara's record and eventually helped South Africa to reach to gigantic 418/5.

In the reply Zimbabwe decided to play all 50 overs instead of going for the target and eventually succeeded and ended the match at 247/4 with some help from Terry Duffin (87) and Hamilton Masakadza (54) . 

This was just the 4th total of 400+ in ODIs. 

This was the second total of 400+ of South Africa in 4 matches. 

Shahid Afridi Vs Srilanka at Nairobi on 04/10/1996

Much before the advent of T20 or T10 format their were some Cricketers who used to play cricket in their own way, in aggressive manner and score quick runs for their team to create pressure in opposition Camp, Shahid Afridi is one of those guys,  he was the real entertainer before the entertainment begins. 

People nowadays might make fun of his ducks but without a doubt on his day he can obliterated any bowling attack he used to make quick runs against quality bowling attacks and it was seen multiple times that once he starts playing in his way it was quite impossible to stop him. 

In 1996, Pakistan faced Sri lanka in 4-nation tournament also known as Sameer Cup, this was Afridi's second ODI, Sri lanka won the toss and decided to field first, Pakistan started well and Shahid Afridi walked in at 60/1 (promoted as a pinch hitter.

Shahid was completely brutal against Sri lankan bowlers from the word go and his century has came in no time, 100 off just 37 balls (6 boundaries and 11 sixes) , and this was a long time before T-20 concept, Afridi's gameplay was way ahead of its time. 

Ultimately Shahid was dismissed on 102 but due to this innings and captain Saeed Anwar's (115) century, Pakistan scored a huge 371/9.

Srilanka, in their reply tried to chase the total Aravinda de Silva (122), Captain Arjuna Ranatunga (52) and Kumar Dharmasena (51) innings were not enough, Srilanka were bowled out for 289 and Pakistan won by 82 runs. 

Shahid Afridi record remain unbroken for almost 18 years untill Corey Anderson broke it.... 

Corey Anderson Vs West Indies at Queenstown on 01/01/2014

We are almost in the present era now, runs flows now quiet easily, batters can play fast and due to T20  every batsmen can have a go against the bowlers from the very beginning, boundaries are shortened, tracks becoming more suitable to bat, almost everything is favouring batsmen and bowlers need to use all their skills and strategies to stop. 

It was just the First day of the new Year 2014 and Corey Anderson can't expect a better gift than this innings, the match started after a long delay due to rain the match was reduced to 21 overs per side New Zealand were 84/3 (only in 7.4 overs) when Corey walked in to bat. 

After this New Zealand innings, which has already got momentum, went berserk almost every ball was travelling to the ropes or going over it, Corey blasted fastest century in just 36 balls ( 131*, 14 sixes and 6 boundaries) and broke Shahid Afridi's record but he was not the only one to score a quick century, Opener Jesse Ryder (104) scored century in just 51 balls, by the end of the innings New Zealand already batted out Windies out of the game, Kiwis ended with stunning 283/4.

West Indies who were never looked like chasing down the total even before they started second essay ended with 124/5, Captain Dwayne Bravo (56) scored a half century which is the only positive West Indies can get out of this match. 

Ab Deviliers Vs West Indies at Johannesburg on 18/01/2015.

Its a bird, its a plane, its a Superman.... Yes that's right, it is international cricket's Superman, Mr. 360 degree, Run machine our very own Abraham Benjamin De Viliers, he is admired by teams and fans alike, he was (before retirement) one of the most phenomenal batsman of modern era. 

This is the second time (unfortunately) West Indies featured in the list and this time again they were at the receiving end, West Indies toured South Africa to play 3 match test series, 5 match ODI series and a 3 match T20 series. 

In the 2nd ODI, South Africa had a blistering start with both openers Riley Rossouw (128) and Hashim Amla (153*) scoring century and opening partnership was of 247 runs (38.3 overs), after the dismissal of Riley, Captain De viliers walked into the crease, with just 11 overs to go everyone expected the target to be in excess of 350+ and with a well Amla at the other end everyone wad expecting Proteas to take game completely away from West Indies. 

And this is what actually happened but it was completely De viliers Show, he went berserk from the start, balls were just flying from Ab De viliers bat, and in every part of the ground , just after an year (what happened in Queenstown) Windies were in familiar situation, they were taken aback and was looking for answers which they can't find. 

That day Ab broke two big batting record he scored his half century in 16 balls and then he scored fastest century in just 31 balls, he perished at 149  in just 44 balls (9 boundaries and 16 sixes) but he took South Africa to a gigantic 439/2.

West Indies, in reply ended on 291/7, with half centuries coming from Dwayne Smith (64) and Denesh Ramdin's  bat (57), South Africa won by 148 runs. 

Thanks for reading.