Corey Anderson basks in glory after breaking Afridi's 17 year-old record. PHOTO: AFP
QUEENSTOWN: New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson cracked the fastest century in One-Day International (ODI) cricket history on Wednesday as New Zealand thrashed the West Indies by 159 runs in a rain-shortened third ODI.
His whirlwind performance in partnership with Jesse Ryder, who smacked the sixth fastest century of all time in that form of the game, took New Zealand to 283 for four in a match reduced to 21 overs each side.
The West Indies then wilted when faced with a daunting run rate of nearly 13.5 an over and could only manage 124-5 in reply.
The series is now all square at 1-1 with two matches to play.
Anderson – who finished not out 131 – took a mere 36 deliveries to reach his century, beating the previous record set by Shahid Afridi, who needed 37 balls to reach three figures playing for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 1996. Ryder faced 46 deliveries to reach his ton.
The burly Anderson hit 14 sixes, the third highest in an ODI innings behind Rohit Sharma (16) for India against Australia two months ago and Australia's Shane Watson (15) against Bangladesh in 2011.
"Some of the batting we saw was once in lifetime stuff and it was great to watch," said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum while West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo stated he was powerless to rein in the batsmen.
"It was a fantastic innings both by Anderson and Ryder. There's nothing you can do as a captain and bowler when those bats hit the ball so clean and everything goes their way."
After New Zealand's outstanding innings, McCullum said he made sure his bowlers raced through their 21 overs to complete the game before the rain returned.
"It would have been an injustice to the innings that we saw if we hadn't got a game in the end. So it was straight out get through the overs no matter what we had to resort to."
Afridi hails new ODI century record holder
Pakistan all-rounder Afridi hailed Anderson’s effort but admitted he had never heard of him before.
"I never heard his name and early morning my nephew told me about his feat and I sort of said the first gift of 2014 is my record being broken," said Afridi.
"But I must say it's a great achievement and Anderson deserves all the praise. It needs a super effort to score a hundred off 36 balls. Records are meant to be broken and I knew it would be broken some day."
However, Afridi admitted he had hoped the record would last until he quit the game.
"I sort of wanted this record to stand until I retire because it has been a big pride for Pakistan and for me and whenever my name comes the record is mentioned," he said.
"Now Anderson's name will come but I am sure with the advent of Twenty20 cricket, this record will surely be bettered in the future."
He added that he had always expected West Indian Chris Gayle or Australian David Warner to break the record.
COMMENTS (29)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
inshallah afridi will break record if afridi come in opening in one match he will break the record
If C. Anderson donot perform in his next matches he will surely be shown the door and become history. It only in Pakistan where people like Afridi can persist.
there must be clarity... now century was scored when playing conditions were revised that is 21 overs each side.. ethically record meant to be broken in 50 overs.. and for all who are jealous of afridi, remind that he did so in his 1st odi.. Logically ICC have to give final verdict as playing conditions clause 2 suggest that to call a odi match there have to minimum 25 overs... and minimum 20 overs to call a match so but some ice on ur burned place.
there must be clarity... now century was scored when playing conditions were revised that is 21 overs each side.. ethically record meant to be broken in 50 overs.. and for all who are jealous of afridi, remind that he did so in his 1st odi.. Logically ICC have to give final verdict as playing conditions clause 2 suggest that to call a odi match there have to minimum 25 overs... and minimum 20 overs to call a match so but some ice on ur burned place
But Afridi's "Eating The Ball" record will remain forever !!
afridi will definatively be upset about this new year news!!
No one can defy this fact that anderson did scored fastest century but icc is having some issues with this decision cuz u atleast have to play 25 overs in a gae to make it an official odi while this game was shortened to 21 overs due to bad weather and therefore afridi still holds the record of fastest century.....!! :)
saddest day of my life, i have always feel proud that a pakistani holds this fastest century record now it is taken by some one else. The ground in queenstown in NZ is very small compare to the one Afridi played in
To me Afridi's record remains unbroken. Technically today's match might be called an ODI, but the fact is that it was a truncated match (21 overs), which practically makes it a T20 - and the scoring obviously gets faster as the match gets shorter since the batsmen take more chances. I think there should be a separate category of records for rain-truncated or otherwise affected matches, and these should not be mixed up with full-length matches. It will take a much bigger effort than Anderson's to match the brilliance of Afridi's record-making inning.
If this record will ever be broken again,it will be done by nobody but Lala ...........
i think afridi has not take a pressure by broken his record because he has a wonderfull alrounder no one have break him.
Afridi no one even knew u when u broke the record.
now afridi is more tense in batting, records are mens to be broken
I believe Afridi would love to watch his inning.
In 1996, Afridi had scored his 37 ball hundred against then world champion Sri Lanka. Windies are mere minnows these days.
@san: Sure, but much much better than getting the hinds whipped & torn apart by SA at the close of 2013;
Congratulations to Anderson.... Although i am not a fan of cricket but i love to see Lala on pitch. No one can compete him. He showed himself either as a batsman as a bowler or as a fielder in almost every match. No one can reduce this respect for him. Good Luch Lala...
Of the 10 fastest hundreds in ODIs, Lala has 3, none other has even 2.
We're proud of you Lala
@Pakistani: @Karachiwala: There should also be a tagging option of "Highly Recommended" for reader comments
My first impression was that this century was scored on a very small ground but a quick glance along the columns of cricinfo quickly confirmed that most of the hits if not all of them would have comfortably cleared most grounds the world over. However, the quality of the West Indian bowling attack is one of despair and utter mediocrity. Wishing Anderson the very best and hopefully he is not a one match wonder unlike a few of our loved heroes.
@san: dude, I think you didn't forget his 100 ( 45 Balls ) vs India in Kanpur 2005. Lolzzzzzz
i am the least happy person about the break of record, but respect to the man. Laala, still you are the best.
You kept the record with you for more than 17 years, we are proud of you LaLa
New year gift for pakistanis
hope he doesnt turn out as bad as afridi
Congratulation. And now shahid can't spend another 10 years in pak cricket team on that century. for god sake, remove afridi from team now.