Every time a batsman scores a century, he takes his team a little more closer to the victory. Though a century doesn’t always promise victory but it is a matter of pride for any cricketer. The feeling of scoring a century reaches another level when the batsman is able to score it faster, in just a few balls.
Here, we bring you a list of 7 fastest centuries in the history of cricket, have a look:
7. Jesse Ryder:
Balls Needed for Century: 46
Total Runs Scored: 104
Match: New Zealand vs. West Indies [01/01/2014] 
On January 1st, 2014, New Zealander’s all-rounder Jesse Ryder gave one of the best performances of his career and entered the list of fastest ODI centuries in the cricket history. This took place during the third ODI of West Indies tour of New Zealand, where he scored a blazing fast century in just 46 deliveries.
6. Shahid Afridi:
Balls Needed for Century: 45
Total Runs Scored: 102
Match: Pakistan vs. India [15/04/2005] 
Pakistan’s legendary cricketer, Shahid Afridi, who was known for his amazing shots and thrilling performances, scored a super-quick century in just 45 balls in the 5th ODI during Pakistan’s tour to India on 15th April 2005 at Kanpur.
5. Brian Lara:
Balls Needed for Century: 45
Total Runs Scored: 117
Match: West Indies vs. Bangladesh [09/10/1999] 
The greatest left-handed batsman of all time and West Indies legend, Brian Lara achieved this feat and became the 5th fastest cricketer to score a century. This happened on 9th October 1999 at Dhaka during the 2nd ODI of West Indies squad’s tour of Bangladesh, where he smashed a century in 45 balls.
4. Mark Boucher:
Balls Needed for Century: 44
Total Runs Scored: 147*
Match: South Africa vs. Zimbabwe [20/09/2006] 
Mark Boucher, the South African wicketkeeper-batsman is at the fourth position in this list. Mark scored his fastest century in just 44 balls during Zimbabwe’s tour of South Africa in the year 2006. His brilliant knock consisted of 147 runs out of 59 deliveries, with 10 sixes and 8 fours.
3. Shahid Afridi:
Balls Needed for Century: 37
Total Runs Scored: 102
Match: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka [04/10/1996] 
Shahid Afridi is the only cricketer to have achieved this feat twice. He scored his fastest century in only 37 balls against Sri Lanka in the year 1996 during CA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi.
2. Corey Anderson:
Balls Needed for Century: 36
Total Runs Scored: 131*
Match: New Zealand vs. West Indies [01/01/2014] 
New Zealand’s Corey Anderson is in second place in this list. It was in the year 2014 when Corey achieved this feat in just 36 balls in a match against West Indies at a strike rate of 278.72. Because of his amazing performance in the match, he was awarded the Man of the Match award.
1. AB de Villiers:
Balls Needed for Century: 31
Total Runs Scored: 149
Match: South Africa vs. West Indies [18/01/2015]
It was in the year 2015 when the 360 degree man played an innings which made the world go upside down or rather taken a 360-degree turn. During the match, de Villiers scored a total of 149 runs in 44 deliveries with a mind-boggling 338.63 strike rate. His knock consisted of 16 over-boundaries and 9 boundaries.
