Hashim Amla becomes fastest batsman to hit 17 ODI centuries

Hashim Amla scored his 17th ODI century, but it went in vain as South Africa lost the game by 73 runs

South African opener Hashim Amla has now become the fastest cricketer to score 17 ODI centuries. He reached the mark by virtue of the hundred he scored in the third ODI vs Australia played at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. Amla got to the mark in his 98th innings, 14 less than the earlier record-holder Virat Kohli.

Amla’s incredible record in ODIs

The 31-year-old has been South Africa’s Mr. Consistent over the past few years, frequently giving them good starts at the top of the order and piling on the runs in every series. He earlier became the fastest to score 15 ODI hundreds as well when he scored a century against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, again going past Kohli. Amla achieved that feat in his 86th innings while the Delhi batsman took 20 more innings to get to the mark.

Amla made his ODI debut for South Africa in 2008 against Bangladesh at Chittagong and has developed into an extremely effective one-day cricketer over the years. He might not possess the raw power of someone like a Chris Gayle nor does he score his runs as innovatively as his teammate AB de Villiers but he certainly can maintain a good pace by scoring boundaries at regular intervals and rotating the strike at other times.

However, soon after reaching his hundred, Amla was bowled for 102 by Josh Hazlewood and that proved to be the turning point as Australia clawed their way into the game and eventually went on to win it by 73 runs. Earlier, the Aussies, courtesy a 109 from Aaron Finch and a quick-fire 55-ball 73 not out from Steve Smith posted a massive score of 329 for 5 in their 50 overs.

Cricket South Africa posted a tweet praising Amla’s performance.

The Mighty @amlahash brings up his 100 off 111 balls! Take a bow you BEAUTY! #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/38LbC6B33J

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 19, 2014

Fewest innings to 17 ODI 100s 98 Hashim Amla 112 V Kohli 156 AB deV 170 S Ganguly 177 Saeed Anwar 182 C Gayle #AusvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 19, 2014

Fastest to reach 17 ODI hudreds

Player	Number of innings taken to score 17 centuries
Hashim Amla	98
Virat Kohli	112
AB de Villiers	156
Sourav Ganguly	170
Saeed Anwar	177
Chris Gayle	182