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Top 5 fastest hundred in ODI World Cup history
In his blistering batting performance, Maxwell scored a century in just 40 balls, while he finished his innings at 106 in 44 balls.
The ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 is one of the best tournaments for batters. With the amazing batting wickets and short boundaries, some grounds are offering runfests for them. It will be surprising if this edition of the marquee event fails to break or level any kind of batting record in the history of the tournament.
This tournament has already witnessed record-breaking team totals and centuries, which has entertained fans too. So, in today’s article, we will discuss the top 5 fastest centuries in the history of the ODI World Cup 2023. The special thing about this list is that out of the top 5, two were registered in the ongoing tournament itself.
5. AB de Villiers in 52 balls vs. the West Indies in Sydney, 2015
AB de Villiers (Source: Twitter)
Former South Africa batter AB De Villiers provided a batting masterclass with his innovative 360-degree approach during a group match against the West Indies in the 2015 ODI World Cup. The charismatic right-handed batsman secured the fifth-fastest century in World Cup history, completing it in just 52 balls.
His final score of 162 off 66 balls comprised an impressive tally of 17 fours and 8 sixes. De Villiers’ performance mirrored his signature style, as he effortlessly executed powerful sweeps and reverse sweeps, often sending the ball sailing for sixes across both the onside and offside, even against formidable bowlers like Jason Holder.
4. Glenn Maxwell in 51 balls vs. Sri Lanka in Sydney, 2015
Glenn Maxwell (Source: Twitter)
Four years ago, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Maxwell achieved his second-fastest century, propelling Australia into the quarterfinals with a commanding 64-run victory over Sri Lanka. The Victorian batsman’s exceptional innings became the catalyst for Australia, allowing them to reach a formidable total of 376. In the final 18 overs, Maxwell’s brilliant batting accounted for 102 runs, including 10 fours and four sixes, earning him the well-deserved man-of-the-match award.
Once again confronting Sri Lanka, Maxwell astounded the cricketing world with his dynamic performance. His century in just 51 balls demonstrated his remarkable consistency as a powerful hitter, solidifying his status as one of the most explosive batsmen in the sport. This stunning display of batting prowess left fans and experts alike in awe of Maxwell’s remarkable talent and skill on the field.
3. Kevin O’Brien in 50 balls vs. England in Bangalore, 2011
Kevin O’Brien (Source: Twitter)
In a group match against England Star Ireland, all-rounder Kevin O’Brien stepped up and wrote history at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. When Ireland found themselves in a tough spot at 106 for 4 while chasing 328, Kevin O’Brien took charge and displayed a remarkable show of power hitting. He achieved the fastest century in World Cup history, taking only 50 balls to reach the milestone.
O’Brien’s exceptional innings concluded with 113 runs off 63 balls, setting the stage for a memorable three-wicket victory. Throughout his explosive performance, he struck six sixes and 13 fours, leaving an indelible mark on the match and etching his name in the tournament’s record books. This was Ireland‘s first-ever ODI win against England.
2. Aiden Markram in 49 balls vs. Sri Lanka in Delhi, 2023
Aiden Markram (Source: Twitter)
Star South Africa batter Aiden Markram made history by hitting the fastest century in the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup. During South Africa’s dominant performance against Sri Lanka in Delhi, he achieved this feat in just 49 deliveries, surpassing Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien’s record by one delivery. South Africa’s remarkable batting display helped them set a new record for the highest-ever total in a Men’s Cricket World Cup match.
They reached an incredible 428/5, surpassing Australia’s previous record of 417/6 against Afghanistan in 2015. Despite a spirited effort from Sri Lanka in chasing such a mammoth total, they were eventually bowled out for 326 in 44.5 overs, making it the highest-scoring game in Cricket World Cup history.
1. Glenn Maxwell in 40 balls vs. the Netherlands in Delhi, 2023
Glenn Maxwell (Source: Twitter)
On the same ground, just a few days after Aiden Markram’s cranage, Glenn Maxwell hammered the fastest ODI World Cup century against the Netherlands. In his blistering batting performance, Maxwell scored a century in just 40 balls, while he finished his innings at 106 in 44 balls. In his iconic innings, Maxwell hammered nine fours and eight sixes.
It’s worth noting that with his amazing batting performance, Maxwell outshined David Warner‘s century in the same game. However, their performance helped Australia post a massive total of 399/8 in 50 overs. Notably, Warner, in his inning, scored 104 runs off 93 balls with the help of eleven fours and three sixes.
