List of fastest centuries in T20Is

Srihari
Lewis, Rahul
Evin Lewis and KL Rahul both make this list thanks to their efforts in the first T20I between India and West Indies in USA

The first match of the two-match T20I series between India and West Indies did not only witness the most runs in the history of any T20 match but also saw two players score a century in the same match.

Those two players, West Indies’ Evin Lewis and India’s KL Rahul did not only bring up their respective maiden T20I hundreds but also got there in rapid time. They got there fast enough to make it into the list of 5 fastest centuries in T20Is. Where do they feature on this list? Just read on and find out.

Here are the 6 fastest centuries in T20Is:

6. Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Babar Hayat - 50 balls

Brendon McCullum
McCullum is one of three players to have scored a 50-ball T20I century

Chris Gayle holds the record for the most centuries in the format and Brendon McCullum has more runs than anyone else in T20Is, so it should come as little surprise that both players make this list. But the biggest surprise is the presence of Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat, whose 50-ball century earlier in the year against Oman helps him take the fifth spot alongside two bonafide T20 legends.

Chris Gayle’s knock that guarantees his place on this list occured in the first match of the inaugural ICC World T20 in South Africa against the hosts. What a way to kick off the format and the tournament as he smashed a 50-ball hundred and helped his side score 205 which unfortunately wasn’t enough for the win.

Brendon McCullum’s knock came against arch-rivals Australia in Christchurch in 2010. If Gayle’s effort ended in defeat, McCullum’s heroics saw his side tie the match and eventually win in the eliminator.

5. Glenn Maxwell - 49 balls

Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell got his first T20 century

After being dropped from the ODI squad to face Sri Lanka, Glenn Maxwell certainly got his task cut out for him in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. And he was even asked to open for the first time in his T20I career. And what did he do, he just went and scored the second-fastest T20I century by an Australian.

In the process not only notch up his carer-best T20 score but also scored his maiden T20I ton off just 49 balls which was good enough to sneak him into the top five on the list of fastest T20I centuries.

What does he get on 98, with the prospect of his first T20 hundred looming? A nice juicy full toss that was called a no ball and was dropped by the fielder as well. This is also the highest score by an Australian against Sri Lanka in T20Is.

4. Evin Lewis - 48 balls

Evin Lewis
Evin Lewis on his way to his maiden T20I century Photo by BCCI

Taking the fourth spot on this list is the latest addition to the list of centurions in T20Is. Before stepping out onto the field against India on Saturday, Evin Lewis had managed a duck in his one and only T20I against Afghanistan earlier in the year in the ICC World T20.

But coming into the side on the back of a solid performance for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Carribean Premier League and for Chris Gayle, Lewis certainly made his opportunity count. Although Johnson Charles was the aggressor initially, the 24-year-old let loose in the over against Stuart Binny.

The southpaw smashed the all-rounder for five consecutive sixes and thereby was well on his to not just his maiden T20I century but also the second-fastest century by a West Indian in the format.

3. Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch - 47 balls

Chris Gayle

And the record for the fastest century by a West Indian in the format belongs to, surprise, surprise, Christopher Henry Gayle, who takes third spot on this list along with Australia’s Aaron Finch for completing a 47-ball century.

Gayle century came earlier in the year against England in the ICC World T20. Although he intially looked on course to finish with the fastest T20I century, he eventually had to settle for third place but the fact that it was still off 47 balls and resulted in a win that was part of West Indies’ second World T20 title means he is unlikely to lose too much sleep over this.

Also read: Listing the cricketers with highest T20I scores by batting position

Alongside him is Aaron Finch’s destruction of England in Southampton three years ago, when he went on to score the highest score in T20Is and help Australia set a massive target which eventually won them the game.

2. KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis - 46 balls

KL Rahul

KL Rahul’s century might not have been enough to help his side claim victory in the first T20I against West Indies but it was certainly enough to take him to second place on the list of fastest centuries in T20Is. In fact, the Karnataka-born batsman missed the mark by just a solitary ball.

His 46-ball effort equalled Faf du Plessis knock against West Indies last year and the pair’s innings were similar in more ways than one. While both got their centuries in the same amount of balls, they both ended up on the losing side despite their side scoring over 230 runs in the match.

Both players did not open the innings and among the top three on this list, the pair are the only two to achieved their century despite not opening the innings for their side. Eventually though both players might not be especially pleased with their efforts, not because they didn’t claim the record but because they both ended up on the losing side despite a glorious knock.

1. Richard Levi - 45 balls

Richard Levi

The South African opener may no longer be representing his country and have only played 13 T20Is for his country but he made his mark on the international arena despite the lack of consistent appearances for the national side.

In fact, when he broke the record for the fastest T20I century, which was Gayle’s 50-ball effort at the time, he was only playing in his second T20I, much like another player on this list. While Lewis wasn’t able to break the record in his second T20I game, Levi did, against New Zealand in 2012.

Having made his debut in the first T20I against New Zealand and scored a scratchy knock in a defeat for his side, Levi turned on the screws in his second match. Chasing 174 to wn, the Proteas lost two of their top three inside the powerplay. But Levi didn’t let that bother him as he went on to compile an unbeaten hundred that came off just 45 balls to secure a comfortable victory for his side with four overs to go.

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Edited by Staff Editor