Saim Ayub Smashes Record with 53-Ball ODI Century Against Zimbabwe

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub smashed a 53-ball century against Zimbabwe, becoming the first Pakistan batter after Shahid Afridi to make an ODI hundred in less than 60 balls. Playing only his fifth ODI, Ayub’s shining knock helped Pakistan win the match by ten wickets as they chased 146 runs. His knock is now even more levelled with the third-fastest ODI century by a Pakistan player.

Ayub’s innings, featuring 17 boundaries and three sixes, was a 113 off 62 balls. The match will also find a place in the record books as the lowest total in ODI history (148-0) to have featured an individual century. The win leveled the series at 1-1 and the decider will be on November 28.

Ayub’s acceleration in the innings, going from his first fifty in 32 balls to the next in just 21, was quite interesting. Interestingly, his century tied the lowest sixes (3) hit in a sub-60-ball ton, which has been achieved previously by South Africa’s AB de Villiers and Aiden Markram. Ayub’s knock is also the fastest Pakistan ODI hundred in recent years, and his growing stature in the cricketing world has made it a talk of the town.

Abrar Ahmed, who made his bowling debut for Pakistan, took four wickets and did something similar to the late Abdul Qadir in the way he bowled. Pakistan’s spinners took nine wickets, and the tenth fell when a batsman ran himself out.

Fastest Men’s ODI Centuries by Pakistan

Player	Balls to 100	Fours	Sixes	Score	Opposition	Year
Shahid Afridi	37	11	6	102	Sri Lanka	1996
Shahid Afridi	45	9	10	102	India	2005
Shahid Afridi	53	4	17	124	Bangladesh	2010
Saim Ayub	53	17	3	113*	Zimbabwe	2024
Sharjeel Khan	61	9	16	152	Ireland	2016
Fakhar Zaman	63	11	8	126*	New Zealand	2023