The T20 World Cup enters its 7th edition in UAE. A T20 Hundred is always an elusive feat to achieve owing to the fact that each innings comprises of only 120 balls. In the 6 editions so far only 8 batsmen have managed to achieve this feat. Today, we will be discussing about the Fastest T20 Hundreds scored in T20 World Cup. The list goes on chronologically:
• Chris Gayle:
The Universe Boss is the first name that features in this list. Chris Gayle has scored over 14000 runs in T20 cricket. The southpaw is currently the highest run getter in T20 cricket. Chris Gayle also has the record of scoring the fastest T20 century in T20 World Cups. Gayle achieved the feat when he plundered the hapless Bangladesh team in the 2016 edition and scored a magnificent 100 of 47 deliveries. Gayle hit 10 mammoth sixes in this entertaining knock.
However, the list doesn't end here. Gayle also has a sole record of scoring 2 T20 World Cup hundreds. He achieved the feat in the inaugural match of T20 World Cup history where he scored 117 in 57 balls against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2007. His innings included 11 sixes but West Indies ended up losing the match. This remains the only instance in T20 World Cup history where a team featuring a centurion in the list ended up losing the match. Gayle's 117 remained as the highest individual score in T20 World Cup for 5 years before it was broken by Brendon McCullum in 2012.
• Brendon McCullum:
Brendon McCullum currently holds the highest individual score in T20 WC with a score of 123 against Bangladesh in 58 balls. McCullum achieved this feat in the 2012 edition of T20 World Cup in Srilanka. McCullum brought up his century in 51 balls and hit 11 fours and 7 sixes in his knock as NewZealand thumped Bangladesh by 59 runs.
•Ahmed Shehzad:
Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad too features in this illustrious list. Shehzad who was often hailed as one of the cleanest strikers of the cricket ball scored a brilliant 100 of 58 balls against Bangladesh in Dhaka in World Cup 2014. He hit 10 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 180 and remained unbeaten on 111*.
•Suresh Raina:
Former Indian player Suresh Raina features in the list of fastest T20 hundred in a T20 World Cup as a sole representative of India. Raina achieved this feat in 2009 against South Africa in the Caribbean. Raina played 60 balls for his 101 and hit 5 huge sixes as India got past South Africa.
Other notable mentions are:
• Alex Hales:
England opener Alex Hales played one of the best knocks in his T20 career in 2014 T20 World Cup against Srilanka. The swashbuckling opener brought up his 100 in 60 balls becoming the first English batsman to score a T20 World Cup century. He hit 11 fours and 6 sixes and remained unbeaten on 116* as England registered one of the iconic run chases in T20 World Cup history.
•Tamim Iqbal:
Tamim Iqbal's unbeaten 103 of 63 balls against Oman in the 2016 World Cup remains as one of the best knocks scored by a Bangladesh batsman. The stylish left hander hit 5 sixes and fours to register Bangladesh's berth in the main draw of the tournament.
•Mahela Jayawardene:
The former Srilankan captain completes the list of the fastest World Cup T20 hundreds with a 64 ball 100 against Zimbabwe in 2010 T20 World Cup. Jayawardene is the first and the only Srilankan batsman to have scored hundreds in all 3 formats for Srilanka till date. Jayawardene's knock included 10 fours and 4 sixes as Srilanka beat Zimbabwe in a rain curtailed match.
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