Top 10 Fastest Centuries in Professional Cricket

The game of cricket has drastically changed in the last decade. The batsmen have become more aggressive since the rise of the T20 format and we see faster hundreds in the modern game. The batters are more comfortable in hitting the ground running and the batsmen have shown the skills to get going from the get-go. We take a look at the fastest centuries in professional cricket.

Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi had scored a blistering hundred off just 37 balls against Sri Lanka at Nairobi in 1994. That record stood untouched for a long period of 19 years. New Zealand’s southpaw batsman Corey Anderson was able to better it by one ball as he scored a fine hundred off 36 balls.

We take a look at the top 10 fastest centuries in professional cricket (First Class, List A, T20, International Matches).

10. Martin Guptill – 35 balls.

New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill was on fire while playing for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire in the T20 Vitality Blast of 2018. Northamptonshire had set a target of 188 runs and Worcestershire was able to cruise in the run-chase as they got there in 13.1 overs on the back of Guptill blitzkrieg hundred.

The talisman batsman a dozen fours and seven sixes in his blistering century and took the bowlers to the cleaners. Guptill scored 102 off 38 balls and batted with a staggering strike rate of 268.42.

9. L Van Der Westhuizen – 35 Balls

Namibia’s opening batsman L Van Der Westhuizen was on song in the 5th unofficial T20 International against Kenya at Windhoek in 2011. The southpaw batsman raced to his hundred in only 35 balls as he batted with the long handle. The left-hander catapulted his attack from the word go and there was no turning back in his blistering knock.

The Namibian batsman scored a fine knock of 145 runs off just 50 balls as he batted with a sky-high strike rate of 290. He scored 14 fours and a dozen sixes in his match-winning innings.

8. David Miller – 35 Balls

South Africa’s left-handed batsman David Miller was able to hit the ground running against Bangladesh on 29th October 2017 at Potchefstroom. Miller took only 35 balls to get to his maiden T20I hundred. The southpaw batsman scored an unbeaten knock of 101 runs off just 36 balls.

Miller batted with a strike rate of 280.55 and there was no stopping him. The Bangladesh bowlers didn’t have any answers to David Miller’s assault as he was able to get his best to the table. Miller scored seven fours and nine sixes in his blistering hundred.

7. Rohit Sharma – 35 balls

India’s vice-captain Rohit Sharma is known to get quick runs. The stylish batsman was on song against Sri Lanka in the T20 International in 2017. India was able to post a gargantuan score of 260 on the back of Rohit Sharma’s ton.

The Indian opener took only 43 balls to scored 118. In fact, at one stage it was expected that Rohit Sharma might get to double hundred if he continues to bat in a similar fashion. The right-hander scored a dozen fours and 10 sixes in his sublime innings. Rohit Sharma batted with a strike rate of 274.41.

6. Andrew Symonds – 34 balls

Australia’s combative Andrew Symonds was known for his explosive batting. Symonds was at his best while playing for Kent against Middlesex in England T20 Cup in 2004. The right-hander was leading Kent and he scored a fine knock of 112 off just 43 balls with the help of 18 fours and three sixes.

The Australian batsman batted with a strike rate of 260.46 and Kent was able to get to the target of 156 in just 13.1 overs. Thus, Kent was able to cruise to a comfortable win of six wickets.

5. David Hookes – 34 balls

We generally expect the fastest centuries to have come in T20 or One Day cricket. However, South Australia skipper David Hookes blistering hundred came off only 34 balls in First Class cricket. South Africa was set an improbable target of 272 off just 30 overs in 1982 edition of the Sheffield Shield.

Hookes was angry as Victoria captain Graham Yallop had delayed the declaration. Thus, David Hookes promoted himself as an opener and took on the Victoria bowlers from the get-go. He scored 17 fours and three sixes in his innings.

4. Wihan Lubbe – 33 balls

Wihan Lubbe completed his hundred off just 33 balls while playing for North West against Limpopo in South Africa’s domestic T20 tournament. The southpaw batsman scored 102 runs off just 33 balls with the help of five fours and 11 sixes.

Lubbe not only scored the fastest T20 hundred for South Africa but also it was his debut hundred in the T20 format. The left-hander was on song and clobbered the Limpopo bowlers to all corners of the ground.

3. Rishabh Pant – 32 balls 

India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is well known for his pyrotechnics. The southpaw batsman was able to hit the straps in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy against Himachal Pradesh while playing for Delhi.

Delhi was able to race to the total of 148 in just 11.4 overs after Rishabh Pant made a mockery of the Himachal Pradesh’s bowling line-up. The left-hander scored an undefeated knock of 116 runs off just 38 balls. The pugnacious batsman scored eight fours and a dozen sixes in his blistering knock.

2. AB de Villiers: 31 balls

South Africa’s former batsman AB de Villiers had gone berserk against West Indies in 2015. AB de Villiers thwarted the Windies bowlers to all around the park. The right-hander was on song and made most of his form to take bowlers to the cleaners. South Africa was given a great start by Hashim Amla and Rille Rossouw and de Villiers made most of it.

The linchpin batsman went on to score 149 runs off just 44 balls. The right-hander went on to score nine fours and 16 sixes in his blistering knock. Furthermore, AB de Villiers batted with an outstanding strike rate of 338.63.

1. Chris Gayle – 30 balls

The Windies batsman Chris Gayle played the most insane innings as he thrashed Pune Warriors India bowlers. The left-hander went on to score a majestic knock of 175 runs off just 66 balls.

Gayle was on fire and he showed no mercy for the opposition bowlers in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League. The left-hander scored 13 fours and 17 sixes in his monumental innings of 175 runs. The left-hander batted with an impressive strike rate of 265.15.

(All Stats Updated Till 28th May, 2019)