Queenstown, Jan 1: New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson cracked the fastest century in one-day international cricket history today as New Zealand thrashed the West Indies by 159 runs in a rain-shortened third ODI.
His whirlwind performance in partnership with Jesse Ryder, who smacked the sixth fastest century of all time in that form of the game, took New Zealand to 283-4 in a match reduced to 21 overs each side.
The West Indies then wilted when faced with a daunting run rate of nearly 13.5 an over and could only manage 124-5 in reply.
The series is now all square at 1-1 with two matches to play.
Anderson — who finished not out 131 — took a mere 36 deliveries to reach his century, beating the previous record set by Shahid Afridi, who needed 37 balls to reach three figures playing for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 1996. Ryder faced 46 deliveries to reach his ton.
The burly Anderson hit 14 sixes, the third highest in an ODI innings behind Rohit Sharma (16) for India against Australia two months ago and Australia’s Shane Watson (15) against Bangladesh in 2011.
Anderson and Ryder put on 191 for the fourth wicket as they hammered the West Indies attack.
After the start of the game was delayed five hours because of the weather, Ryder set the tone for the New Zealand innings when he cracked a boundary from the first ball he faced.
The demise of fellow opener Martin Guptill (one) was only a matter of time. He was all at sea against the bounce generated by Jason Holder and after surviving two caught behind appeals there was no mistake with the third.
Brendon McCullum belted 33 off 11 deliveries as New Zealand raced past 50 in just 26 balls and Ross Taylor came and went quickly for nine.
That brought Anderson to the wicket to join Ryder in a rollicking partnership for which the West Indies had no answer.(Agencies)
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