Virender Sehwag Hits Fastest ODI Century by an Indian Cricketer

Where: Hamilton, New Zealand

March 11, 2009 : With his century coming off just 60 balls, Virender Sehwag became the fastest Indian batsman to hit a hundred runs in One Day International cricket. Sehwag broke Mohammad Azharuddin’s record of a 100 off 62 balls in Baroda 21 years ago. Sehwag also became the world’s seventh-fastest century hitter in limited-overs cricket.

India won the match by 10 wickets. New Zealand put up a total of 270 for five. The target for the chasers was revised a number of times, because of rain. Nothing could stop Sehwag, though. He hit 14 fours and six sixes in his knock of 125 not out from just 74 balls. Fellow opener Gautam Gambhir played a supporting role. Their unbroken opening partnership was the largest ever to win a match in One Day Internationals. Rain ended the match in the 24th over, and the result was determined by the Duckworth-Lewis* method.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said his team had been given “a good old fashioned hiding,” and added, “We haven’t found an answer to Sehwag.” However, New Zealand managed to win the fifth and final match at Eden Park in Auckland by eight wickets. India won the series 3-1, as the second match was abandoned due to rain.

*The Duckworth-Lewis method is a mathematical system of calculating the target score for the team batting second in a limited overs match that is interrupted by weather or any other circumstances.

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Filed under: world news
Tags: #india, #cricket

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