Cricket in Numbers: 5 Instances When Three Centuries Were Scored in a Single ODI Innings

But things get better if three batsmen are able to score a century for their team in a single ODI inning. Fans might have seen three or even more than three players scoring a century in an innings in the Test format, but there are a few instances where three players smashed centuries in a single ODI innings.

South Africa vs West Indies 2015

The first time three batsmen scored centuries in a single innings came during the match between South Africa and the West Indies. Although the Caribbean team is known for its aggressive batting style, it was the Proteas who got their name in this record list during the 2nd ODI, which was set to be played in Johannesburg.

South Africa vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Johannesburg
South Africa: 439/2 (50 Overs)	West Indies: 291/7 (50 Overs)
Hashim Amla: 153* (142)	Dwayne Smith: 64 (65)
Andre Russell: 1/78	Morne Morkel: 2/43
South Africa Won by 148 Runs

West Indies were fortunate and unfortunate at the same time, as the team had won the toss, but they decided to field first. And at this time, South Africa had two of its most destructive openers, which included the duo of Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw. Within the power play, they scored 51 runs for the team, contributing equally to the total.

Hashim Amla later went on to score 50 runs in 58 balls, which was followed by a half-century of Rilee Rossouw, putting the West Indies bowlers under stress. But they were still not able to take any wickets, as Rilee Rossouw first went to smash a century in 102 balls, which was quickly followed by a century of Hashim Amla in 103 balls.

Rilee Rossouw lost his wicket after scoring 128 runs off 115 balls, putting South Africa at 247/1 in 38.3 overs. After this wicket, the real storm started with AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla at the crease. Mr 360° went on to score 149 runs off just 44 deliveries with 9 fours and 16 sixes, putting the team at a strong total of 439 runs.

This target was definitely impossible for the West Indies to chase, as the team took 50 overs to just score 291 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. For his century at a strike rate above 300, AB de Villiers was awarded the Player of the Match in this game, while Hashim Amla was the top run scorer of the game with 153 runs off 142 balls.

South Africa vs India 2015

The Proteas got their name to this list not once but twice in the same year, as after dominating against the West Indies, they went on to continue the same against India. But this time things were different, as it was the series decider match to be played at the Wankhede Stadium. India and South Africa both had won two games each, and winning the toss in the last game, South Africa decided to bat first.

India vs South Africa, 5th ODI, Wankhede
South Africa: 438/4 (50 Overs)	India: 224 (36 Overs)
Faf du Plessis: 133* (115)	Ajinkya Rahane: 87 (58)
Suresh Raina: 1/19	Kagiso Rabada: 4/41
South Africa Won by 214 Runs

Hashim Amla gave a quick start to the team, but he eventually lost his wicket in the 4th over, after scoring 23 runs off 13 balls. Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock had an impressive 154-run stand for the second wicket, as de Kock scored 109 runs in 87 deliveries before losing his wicket to Suresh Raina.

To assist, Faf du Plessis came down another explosive batsman, AB de Villiers, and both players bashed the Indian bowlers all around the ground. Thus, Faf du Plessis went on to score 133 runs off 115 balls before he went back to the pavilion, being retired hurt. The damage was done, as the Proteas stood at the score of 351 for the loss of 2 wickets, when Faf walked back.

But AB de Villiers continued the onslaught, as he went on to score 119 runs off 61 balls with just 3 fours and 11 sixes. Eventually, he lost his wicket to Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, putting the team at a score of 398 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. David Miller and Farhaan Behardien continued scoring runs towards the death overs, allowing the Proteas to finish at 438/4.

This definitely was a high target, and fans expected the Indian batting line-up to give a fight. But the Proteas bowling line-up completely dominated against India, putting the team down at a total of 224 runs, and they ended up winning the game by 214 runs. Quinton de Kock won the POTM award in this game for his magnificent century.

England vs Netherlands 2022

After 7 years, since South Africa was the only team in this list, England decided to join in with their ODI series against the Netherlands. The first ODI match was being played at Amstelveen, where England were sent to bat first by the Netherlands. This decision must have hurt the team after a while, but they had a good start, putting England at 1/1 in the second over.

England vs Netherlands, 1st ODI, Amstelveen
England: 498/4 (50 Overs)	Netherlands: 266 (49.4 Overs)
Jos Buttler: 162* (70)	Scott Edwards: 72* (56)
Pieter Seelaar: 2/83	Moeen Ali: 3/57
England Won by 232 Runs

To help Phil Salt, Dawid Malan came to bat at number three, and this duo left no room for the Netherlands bowling line-up to take wickets. First, Phil Salt went on to score 122 runs off 93 balls, with 14 fours and 3 sixes, before losing his wicket to Logan van Beek. With his wicket, England stood at the score of 223/2 in 29.4 overs.

Jos Buttler joined the party, and he didn’t look back once he started smashing the bowlers. Dawid Malan gave a great hand to him, but he got out after scoring 125 runs off 109 balls. At this time, Buttler continued to score runs and ended up scoring 162 runs off 70 balls with 7 fours and 14 sixes. Liam Livingstone played a strong cameo, scoring 66 runs off 22 balls, which helped England score 498 runs.

The Netherlands tried its level best to reach the 300-run mark at least, but the English bowlers had an upper hand over them. Only two of their batsmen were able to breach the 50-run mark, as the team got all out at the score of 266, allowing England to win by 232 runs. Jos Buttler received the POTM award for scoring 162 runs off 70 deliveries.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2023

South Africa, for the third time, got their name to this iconic list of three batsmen scoring a century in a single ODI innings. This happened in the World Cup 2023, which was being hosted by India. In the 4th match of the tournament, the team went against Sri Lanka, and this game was played in Delhi. Sri Lanka won the toss against South Africa and sent the Proteas to bat first.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 4th Match, Delhi
South Africa: 428/5 (50 Overs)	Sri Lanka: 326 (44.5 Overs)
Rassie van der Dussen: 108 (110)	Charith Asalanka: 79 (65)
Dilshan Madushanka: 2/86	Gerald Coetzee: 3/68
South Africa Won by 102 Runs

The team started off well by taking the wicket of Temba Bavuma in the second over. At this time, Rassie van der Dussen joined their opener Quinton de Kock to get a well-set partnership. Quinton de Kock went on to complete his century, scoring 100 runs off 84 balls, after which he lost his wicket to Matheesha Pathirana.

Quinton and Rassie added 204 runs for the team in their second wicket partnership, following which Aiden Markram stepped in at number 4. Rassie van der Dussen also scored a century in 103 balls, but eventually lost his wicket to Dunith Wellalage. He scored 108 runs in 110 balls, putting the team at a score of 264/3.

Aiden Markram took a turn and went full aggressive against the Sri Lankan bowlers. Following this, he first completed his half-century in 34 balls, and later went on to score 100 runs off just 49 deliveries. Shortly after this, Aiden Markram lost his wicket at the score of 106, but his quick innings helped the Proteas to score 428 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.

Sri Lanka gave a fight to reach close to this competitive total, noting that it is the grandest stage of them all. Despite three players scoring a half-century for the team, they still fell short by 102 runs to reach the target, being bowled out for 326 runs. Aiden Markram, who scored 106 runs off 54 balls, received the POTM award in this game.

Australia vs South Africa 2025

The fifth team to get their name in this iconic list is Australia, and they were able to do it against the Proteas in their recently concluded three-match ODI series. In the final ODI match of the series, Australia decided to regain its form after losing the first two games. This match was being played at Mackay, and Australia, winning the toss, decided to bat first.

Australia vs South Africa, 3rd ODI, Mackay
Australia: 431/2 (50 Overs)	South Africa: 155 (24.5 Overs)
Travis Head: 142 (103)	Dewald Brevis: 49 (28)
Keshav Maharaj: 1/57	Cooper Connolly: 5/22
Australia Won by 276 Runs

Their openers, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, gave a quick start to the team, putting them at the score of 50 in just 5.1 overs. Later, Head went to score his half-century in just 32 balls, which was followed by a half-century of Mitchell Marsh, which came in 50 balls.

The Proteas struggled to take wickets, as Travis Head continued his onslaught and went on to score 100 in just 80 balls. Mitchell Marsh also completed his century in just 105 balls, as they helped Australia to score 250 runs without losing any wickets. But Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy took their wickets, putting the team at the score of 267/2.

Cameron Green stepped in at number three and, with the help of Alex Carey, went on to score his half-century in just 28 balls and quickly completed his century in just 47 deliveries. As Green ended up scoring 118 runs off 55 balls, Carey also smashed a half-century, which helped the team score 431 runs for the loss of 2 wickets.

South Africa struggled to perform well in this situation and fell way short of the big target presented to them by the Aussies. Only Dewald Brevis (49) and Tony de Zorzi (33) were the top scorers for the team, as South Africa got all out for 155 runs. Thus, Australia ended up winning by 276 runs, and Travis Head received the POTM award.