VIDEO: Cory Anderson smashes record-breaking ODI ton

Sport360 staff 11:23 02/01/2014
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  • Smash, bang wallop: Corey Anderson celebrates his record-breaking century.

    Corey Anderson earned a place in cricket’s record books on Wednesday but insists he knew nothing of it at the time.

    The New Zealand batsman cracked a fastest-ever one-day hundred against West Indies, with the 23-year-old taking just 36 balls to reach the milestone.

    In doing so he beat the 37-ball knock of Shahid Afridi for Pakistan 17 years ago, with his assault including 14 maximums and four sixes.

    Anderson’s barrage came as part of a 159-run victory for the Black Caps in a rain-shortened match, with New Zealand’s 283 for four in 21 overs far too much for the tourists to deal with in Queenstown.

    They were toothless in a response of 124 for five but it was Anderson who was the story, even if he did not know why. “I didn’t have a clue actually. It’s not that I’d look it up and try and take it down. But it’s nice to have it,” he said.

    Anderson joined Jesse Ryder in the middle when New Zealand were 84 for three. Ryder – back in the team after a turbulent 2013 off the field – was on 41 at the time and Anderson, who only made his ODI debut against England last June, thought his role would be a support one.

    “I thought I would look at singles and try and get myself in but a couple came out of the middle and you keep going,” he said.

    “Me and Jesse started thinking every ball was either going to get us out or go for six and it’s nice to have that feeling when you’re out there.”

    The pair posted 191 for the fourth wicket, with Ryder going on to make 104 which itself was the sixth fastest ton in ODIs.

    “Some of the batting we saw was once in a lifetime stuff,” said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum while West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo said he was powerless to rein in the batsmen.

    “It was a fantastic innings both by Anderson and Ryder. There’s nothing you can do as a captain and bowler when those bats hit the ball so clean and everything goes their way.”

    Pakistan allrounder Afridi, who set the mark aged just 16 in only his second limited-overs match, against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in October 1996, hailed the effort.

    “I never heard his name and early morning my nephew told me about his feat and I sort of said the first news of 2014 is of my record being broken. But I must say it’s a great achievement and Anderson deserves all the praise.”

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