In the world of cricket, centuries have traditionally been regarded as measured feats of concentration, endurance, and skill. However, the advent of aggressive one-day cricket, particularly in the post-2000 era, has redefined what it means to score a hundred. Today, it’s not just about reaching three figures, it’s about how fast you get there.
The ODI format, once a slower cousin of Test cricket, has evolved into a high-octane battlefield where fearless batting, towering sixes, and record-breaking feats are the new norm. A rapid-fire century is the ultimate stamp of dominance, not just over the bowling side, but over time itself.
In this article, we’ll revisit the Top 5 Fastest Hundreds in ODI Cricket History, celebrating those who transformed conventional batting wisdom into sheer, brutal brilliance.
5. Asif Khan (UAE) – 101 off 42 Balls
Match: UAE vs Nepal
Venue: Kirtipur
Date: March 16, 2023
Not all heroes play for the big teams. Asif Khan, representing the UAE, turned heads in an ODI against Nepal by smashing the fastest century by a batter from an Associate Nation. Walking in during the death overs, Asif played an unforgettable knock, scoring 101* in just 42 balls. With clean, fearless hitting, he dispatched the Nepalese bowlers to all parts of the ground. The innings included 11 sixes and, more importantly, showed the world that cricketing excellence is no longer confined to traditional powerhouses.
Stats Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Balls Faced | 42 |
| Runs Scored | 101* |
| Fours | 4 |
| Sixes | 11 |
| Strike Rate | 240.47 |
| Century In | 41 Balls |
| Result | UAE won by 68 runs |
4. Glenn Maxwell (Australia) – 106 off 40 Balls
Match: Australia vs Netherlands
Venue: Delhi
Date: October 25, 2023
When chaos meets control, and innovation merges with brutality, you get a Glenn Maxwell special. In a group stage match of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Glenn Maxwell unleashed one of the most outrageous innings the format has ever witnessed, a century off just 40 balls, the fastest by an Australian in ODI history and one of the most destructive of all time. The sheer audacity of the strokeplay left bowlers clueless and the crowd breathless. Maxwell scored 106 in total, with 9 sixes and 8 fours, finishing with a strike rate over 265.
Stats Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Balls Faced | 40 |
| Runs Scored | 106 |
| Fours | 8 |
| Sixes | 9 |
| Strike Rate | 265.00 |
| Century In | 40 Balls |
| Result | Australia won by 309 runs |
3. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 102 off 37 Balls
Match: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
Venue: Nairobi
Date: October 4, 1996
Boom Boom Afridi, the name was born on this very day. Just 16 years old and playing only his second ODI, Shahid Afridi walked in with a bat borrowed from Waqar Younis and rewrote the record books with an unforgettable blitzkrieg. Sri Lanka had just won the World Cup and boasted the likes of Muralitharan and Vaas, but Afridi showed no signs of awe. He reached his century in 37 balls, smashing 11 sixes, a then-record for most in an ODI innings. His knock announced a new era: the rise of fearless, youthful aggression. Afridi’s innings wasn’t just about runs; it was about revolution.
Stats Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Balls Faced | 37 |
| Runs Scored | 102 |
| Fours | 6 |
| Sixes | 11 |
| Strike Rate | 255.00 |
| Century In | 37 Balls |
| Result | Pakistan won by 82 runs |
2. Corey Anderson (New Zealand) – 131 off 36 Balls
Match: New Zealand vs West Indies
Venue: Queenstown
Date: January 1, 2014
Corey Anderson, the burly all-rounder from New Zealand, wrote himself into history books with an innings that shook the cricketing world on the very first day of 2014. On a rain-curtailed day (ODI reduced to 21 overs per side), Anderson walked in with full intent. With brute force, he obliterated the West Indies attack, reaching his hundred in just 36 balls, breaking Shahid Afridi’s 18-year-old record. Anderson’s bat resembled a sledgehammer more than a piece of willow. From short-arm pulls to flat sixes over cover, his knock was all muscle, minimal fuss, and maximum carnage.
Stats Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Balls Faced | 36 |
| Runs Scored | 131* |
| Fours | 6 |
| Sixes | 14 |
| Strike Rate | 278.72 |
| Century In | 36 Balls |
| Result | New Zealand won by 159 runs |
1. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 149 off 31 Balls
Match: South Africa vs West Indies
Venue: Johannesburg
Date: January 18, 2015
There are aggressive batters, and then there is AB de Villiers from South Africa, the artist-warrior who could hit a reverse scoop one ball and a no-look six the next. On a sunny day at the Bullring in Johannesburg, AB didn’t just break records, he shattered them. Walking in after a solid start by Amla and Rossouw, de Villiers had a license to thrill. What followed was an onslaught of rare genius. He reached his fifty in 16 balls, equalling the fastest ODI fifty at the time, and then raced to 100 in just 31 balls, a feat that felt surreal even as it unfolded.
Stats Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Balls Faced | 31 |
| Runs Scored | 149 |
| Fours | 9 |
| Sixes | 16 |
| Strike Rate | 338.63 |
| Century In | 31 Balls |
| Result | South Africa won by 148 runs |
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