Fastest T20I century for each Test-playing nation

Superb batting performances by Dawid Malan and captain Eoin Morgan saw England level the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 2-2 at McLean Park in Napier on Friday. Malan slammed an unbeaten 103 not out from 51 balls and featured in a sizzling 182-run stand with Morgan (91 from 41 balls) for the third wicket, as England posted their highest T20I total of 241/3.

While skipper Morgan broke the record for the fastest half-century for England, scoring one in 21 balls during the game, Malan’s maiden T20I century came off 48 balls and he is now the fastest centurion for England in T20 cricket.

In the wake of Malan’s record, we take a look at the fastest T20I century for each Test-playing nation.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (60 balls)

Tamim Iqbal

Experienced Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal holds the record for the fastest T20I century by a batsman from his country. He reached a hundred in 60 balls in the 2016 World T20 match against Oman at Dharamsala.

Iqbal made an unbeaten 103 from 63 balls with 10 fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 163.49. Sabbir Rahman also contributed 44 from 26 as Bangladesh finished with 180 for 2.

The inexperienced Oman were given a D/L target of 120 from 12 overs, but only managed 65 for 9 to lose the game by 54 runs (D/L method).

Pakistan: Ahmed Shahzad (58 balls)

Ahmed Shehzad

Opening the innings, Ahmed Shehzad raced to a century off 58 balls against Bangladesh in a 2014 World T20 game at Dhaka. Shehzad finished on an unbeaten 111 from 62 balls, hitting 10 fours and five sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 179.03, as Pakistan posted 190 for 5.

Bangladesh were held to 140 for 7 in response, as Umar Gul claimed 3 for 30. Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh with 38, as Pakistan won the clash by 50 runs.

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Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (53 balls)

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Captaining Sri Lanka, Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a hundred from 53 balls against Australia at Pallekele on 6 August 2011.

Sri Lanka batted first, and Dilshan made an unbeaten 104 from 57 balls with 12 fours and five sixes. Dilshan’s innings came at a strike rate of 182.45. Thanks to his blazing knock, Sri Lanka finished with 198 for 3.

In reply, Australia could only manage 163 for 8. David Warner made 53 from 31 balls, but Dilruwan’s Perera’s 3 for 26 halted the Aussies in their chase.

New Zealand: Colin Munro (47 balls)

Colin Munro

Kiwi opener Colin Munro smashed a century off 47 balls against West Indies at Mount Maunganui in a match played on 3 January 2018.

New Zealand batted first, and Munro made 104 from 53 balls. He hit only three fours, but blasted 10 sixes in an innings that came at a strike rate of 196.22.

Munro was well-supported by Martin Guptill (63 from 38 balls), as the openers featured in a 136-run stand. New Zealand ended up posting 243 for 5.

In response, Tim Southee’s 3 for 21 restricted West Indies to 124 all out. Andre Fletcher’s 32-ball 46 was the only innings of note.

West Indies: Chris Gayle (47 balls)

Chris Gayle

On expected lines, ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest T20I century by a West Indian. He got a 100 off 47 balls against England during the 2016 World T20 Super 10 game at Mumbai held on 16 March 2016.

Impressively, the knock came batting second. The Windies were chasing England’s challenging total of 182 for 6, and Gayle eased his way to a century as West Indies won the match by six wickets.

Gayle ended on an unbeaten 100 from 48 balls, which included five fours and 11 sixes, at a strike rate of 208.33. Thanks to Gayle’s exploits, West Indies won the contest with 11 balls to spare.

Australia: Aaron Finch (47 balls)

Aaron Finch

Australia’s limited overs captain Aaron Finch has to his credit a century from 47 balls against England, during a T20I at Southampton on 29 August 2013.

Finch smashed his way to 156 from 63 balls, slamming 11 fours and 14 sixes in the process. His runs came at a strike rate of 247.61, as the Aussies put up 248 for 6 batting first.

Shane Watson’s cameo of 37 from 16 was the next highest in the innings. Amid the carnage, Jade Dernbach stood out for England with 3 for 34.

Joe Root made an unbeaten 90 from 49 balls for England, but they still fell short by 39 runs.

Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai (42 balls)

Hazratullah Zazai

The swashbuckling Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai scored a hundred in 42 balls against Ireland during a T20I in Dehradun on 23 February 2019.

Afghanistan batted first in the game, and Zazai blasted an unbeaten 162 from 62 balls, an innings featuring 11 fours and 16 sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 261.29.

Zazai featured in a huge opening stand of 236 with Usman Ghani, who contributed 73 from 48 balls. Afghanistan finished with a big score of 278 for 3.

In spite of a brilliant 50-ball 91 from Ireland skipper and opener Paul Stirling, the chasing team ended up on 194 for 6. Rashid Khan starred for Afghanistan with 4 for 25.

South Africa: David Miller (35 balls)

David Miller

The hard-hitting David Miller holds the record for the fastest T20I century for South Africa. Miller got a hundred off 35 balls against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom on 29 October 2017.

He finished with an unbeaten 101 from 36 balls, having hit seven fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 280.55, as South Africa posted 224 for 4 batting first. At the top, Hashim Amla also blazed his way to 85 from 51 balls, with 11 fours and one six.

In response, Bangladesh folded up for 141 in 18.3 overs as South Africa won the match by 83 runs. Soumya Sarkar top-scored for Bangladesh with 44 from 27 balls.

India: Rohit Sharma (35 balls)

Rohit Sharma

Indian opener Rohit Sharma holds the record for the fastest T20I hundred for his country. Sharma achieved the feat during a T20I against Sri Lanka at Indore on 22 December 2017.

India batted first, and the opener raced to his hundred off 35 balls before eventually falling for 118 off 43 deliveries. Sharma slammed 12 fours and 10 sixes in his knock, which came at a strike rate of 274.41.

KL Rahul also helped himself to 89 from 49 balls as India ended up posting 260 for 5 on the board.

Despite Kusal Perera’s counter-attacking 77 from 37 balls, Sri Lanka were all out for 172. Kuldeep Yadav claimed 3 for 52 and Yuzvendra Chahal 4 for 52 as India won the contest by 88 runs.

Note: Kevin O’Brien is the only cricketer from Ireland to hit a T20I century. He blazed his way to 124 from 62 balls in the 6th Match of the Oman Pentangular Series at Al Amerat on 7 October 2019.