QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand’s Corey Anderson clubbed the fastest century in the history of One-Day Internationals – from 36 balls – as the hosts cruised to a 159-run win over the West Indies in today’s rain-shortened third match.
New Zealand reached 283 for four from only 21 overs, with the West Indies only able to manage 124 for five in reply.
Anderson hit 12 sixes and four fours to break the record – by one delivery – of a 37-ball century scored by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi against Sri Lanka which has stood for almost 18 years.
“I went out there thinking I’m going to have to tick over some singles and construct an innings but you hit a couple of boundaries and keep going,” Anderson said.
New Zealand scored at 13 runs per over, and the 23-year-old allrounder finished on 131 not out from only 47 balls.
He put on 191 for New Zealand’s fourth wicket with Jesse Ryder who made 104 from 51 balls – the sixth-fastest century in One-Day Internationals – to show he has lost little of his aggressive stroke-play in his two-year absence.
Captain Brendon McCullum set the momentum of the New Zealand innings when he smashed 33 from 11 balls.
“Some of the batting we saw was once in a lifetime sort of stuff. It was great to watch and those boys will certainly enjoy all the accolades that come their way,” McCullum said.
The New Zealand innings contained 22 sixes and 22 fours or 220 runs from boundaries. The Queenstown Events Center at which today’s match was played is a regulation-sized international cricket ground.
West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo was not out on 56.