Munro first man to register three T20I tons: Here are top-five century-makers in the format

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  • Colin Munro celebrates his third T20I ton.

    New Zealand batsman Colin Munro has etched his name into the record books after becoming the first player to register three T20I tons.

    Since the format’s introduction in February 2005, 30 hundreds have been scored by various batsmen.

    Here, we take a look at the top-five century-makers in the 20-over format internationally.

    CHRIS GAYLE – 2

    It is a certainty that the West Indies batsman will feature in any list when it comes to T20I greats. The destructive Jamaican’s game is tailor-made for the format and it is no surprise that he has put in some exceptional displays.

    The left-hander scored the first-ever T20I ton when he hit a 57-ball 117 against South Africa at the Wanderers in 2007. He would have to wait another nine years before registering his second hundred and it could not have come at a better occasion.

    Gayle slayed England’s attack in group-match at the 2016 World T20 in Mumbai with a 48-ball 100 in which he hit a staggering 11 sixes.

    Gayle's second T20I ton came in a World T20 clash against England.

    Gayle’s second T20I ton came in a World T20 clash against England.

    BRENDON MCCULLUM – 2

    The former Kiwi skipper is another like Gayle whose swashbuckling hitting translates well in the 20-over game. His first T20I hundred came against New Zealand’s arch-rivals Australia at Christchurch in February 2010.

    McCullum smashed a 56-ball 116 laden with eight sixes and 12 boundaries. His second hundred, also like Gayle, came in a World T20 clash. During the 2012 edition in Sri Lanka, the Blackcaps batsman destroyed Bangladesh with 58-ball 123 to further his credentials as one of the most exciting limited-overs batsman of his time.

    He remains the highest run-scorer in the format with 2,140 runs in 70 innings.

    McCullum became the second man in history to hit a T20I ton.

    McCullum became the second man in history to hit a T20I ton.

    ROHIT SHARMA -2

    The Indian batsman is the only batsman in the world to register three ODI double-hundreds, a feat deemed impossible a decade or so ago. He is equally effective in the 20-over format where he has two hundreds to his name.

    His first came in a losing cause against South Africa at Dharamshala in October 2015. The right-hander scored 106 off 66 deliveries though India would go one to lose the match by seven wickets.

    Sharma‘s second however, would come in a winning cause. The Mumbai-man smashed 10 sixes and 12 boundaries in a 43-ball 118 against Sri Lanka at Indore towards the end of 2017.

    Sharma is the only Indian batsman to register two T20I hundreds.

    Sharma is the only Indian batsman to register two T20I hundreds.

    ELVIN LEWIS – 2

    The West Indies batsman has fast developed a reputation of being a fearsome striker of the ball ever since his introduction to international cricket in 2016.

    In just over a year, the Trinidad-born man has registered two T201 tons, both of them coming against India. The first came in August 2016 at the United States where Lewis powered his way to a 49-ball 100.

    The second was even more destructive and came at Kingston in July 2017. The left-handed batsman hit 12 sixes and six boundaries in an unbeaten 125 off just 66 deliveries.

    Elvin Lewis has developed quite the reputation in T20 cricket.

    Elvin Lewis has developed quite the reputation in T20 cricket.

    COLIN MUNRO – 3

    Munro was already heralded for great things in the format when he made his debut for New Zealand towards the end of 2012. However, he had to wait until 2017 before registering his maiden ton. It came against Bangladesh in January last year as he helped himself to a 54-ball 101 at the Bay Oval.

    His second ton came in the tour of India in a powerful 58-ball 109 at Rajkot in November 2017. He has carried over his great form of 2017 into the New Year with his latest ton against the West Indies once again coming at the Bay Oval.

    He hit 10 sixes in a 53-ball 104 which helped New Zealand register 243-5 in their 20 overs.

    Munro was at his destructive best at the Bay Oval on Wednesday.

    Munro was at his destructive best at the Bay Oval on Wednesday.

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