The fastest centuries in cricket

Witnessing an innings full of flair, desire and passion is one of the best feelings in the world of cricket and with Thursday being the seven-year anniversary since Chris Gayle’s incredible record-breaking T20 century in 2013, we have chosen a handful of the fastest centuries down the years from all formats to fixate on.

Check out all the latest cricket betting odds at William Hill

Chris Gayle vs Pune Warriors, T20 – 2013

April 23, 2013 will never be forgotten by cricket fans simply due to the show that unfolded before our eyes. Every single shot seemed to sail over the terraces as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Chris Gayle set a new record for the fastest century in history as he reached his ton after just 30 deliveries against Pune Warriors. Not only will this performance go down as the fastest T20 century of all time, Gayle went on to reach 175 runs after 66 balls, making it the largest T20 score in IPL history.

Corey Anderson vs West Indies, ODI – 2014

New Year’s Day certainly tends to bring fireworks but in Queenstown in 2014, Corey Anderson brought a different type of firework to the party. New Zealand’s Anderson unleashed hell onto the shoulders of the West Indies bowling attack when he struck a century in just 36 deliveries, a new ODI record. Anderson would finish the innings on 131 not out, and along the way he went on to break the world record for the greatest number of sixes in an innings with 14.

AB de Villiers vs West Indies, ODI – 2015

It has been five years since AB de Villiers decided to go into overdrive for South Africa against the West Indies, but this performance still burns bright inside the minds of international cricket fans. De Villiers set a new ODI record for the fastest century ever after reaching the milestone in 31 balls, five fewer than the previous record held by Anderson. Not only did the South African skipper set that record, he also set a new world record for the fastest half century in history after reaching it in just 16 balls.

Brendon McCullum vs Australia, Test – 2016

In 2016, Brendan McCullum announced that he would be playing the final Test match of his career for New Zealand against Australia, and after promising the nation that he would go out in style, he certainly did not disappoint. It took just 54 deliveries for McCullum to reach his ton, breaking the record for the fastest ever Test century in cricket. The New Zealand legend surpassed the previous record held by Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq, who both reached their centuries in 56 deliveries.