Let us see the cricketers who scored three or more consecutive ODI centuries. Before that, let us first understand how difficult it is to score hundreds in consecutive innings.
As a batsman, you may have all the cricketing shots in your arsenal. You may have the muscular strength to send any ball beyond the boundary rope and probably out of the stadium. You may also be gifted with amazing reflexes and a good sense of timing. But still, you cannot be expected to play big knocks in every inning.
Cricket is a game of skill and talent, but also a game of constantly changing circumstances, pressure, and luck. Add to that, the intense force of an equally talented bowler that is working against you in every ball you face. Not all batsmen can manage to tackle this pressure, challenge this force and bend the luck to their side on a consistent basis, no matter how great a player you are.
Now that we know, how difficult the task is, let us look at the cricketers who with their sheer grit, determination and focus were able to complete the marathon feat of three or more consecutive ODI centuries.
1) Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
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Sangakkara scored 4 consecutive hundreds in one of the most important cricketing tournaments: ICC World Cup 2015. Australia and New Zealand had hosted that World Cup.
His first hundred came against Bangladesh in which SL won by 92 runs.
The second hundred came in a thrilling match against England. England had given a massive target of 310 for SL to chase. Thanks to Sangakkara (117 runs) and Thirimanne (139 runs), SL achieved it in only 47.2 overs, losing only one wicket.
Kumar’s third hundred came against the mighty team and the host Australia. It was another high-pressure match. Australia batted first and scored a huge total of 376/9 (Maxwell 102 runs). SL in reply gave a good fight but could manage only 312 runs. SL was all out in the 47th over. Hundred in this inning by Sangakkara, who was the lone man fighting for his team in this maximum pressure game, won everyone’s hearts.
Finally, the 4th ton came against Scotland.
These important consecutive centuries in a world cup tournament only show the character and class of this great wicket-keeper batsman.
2) Zaheer Abbas (Pak)
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What an important achievement it was in the 1980s to score three consecutive centuries for one’s country against their biggest rival, India! India had come to Pakistan in 1982/83 for playing 4 ODIs and 6 Tests.
In the ODI series, Abbas scored centuries in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ODI. He was the player of the match in all the three. Pak eventually won the series 3-1.
3) Saeed Anwar (Pak)
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Saeed Anwar scored three consecutive centuries in the Sharjah Champions trophy in 1993. The tournament took place between SL, PAK, and WI. Anwar’s heroic centuries helped Pakistan reach the finals of the tournament. But he could not continue his form in the final. West Indies had won the final quite comfortably.
4) Herschelle Gibbs (SA)
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Gibbs’ first two hundreds of the three, came in the ICC Champions Trophy held in SL in 2002. The first one came against Kenya and second against India. In the match against India, in spite of the knocks by Gibbs(116 of 119) and Kallis(97 of 133), SA failed to chase down the target of 262 and lost by 10 runs.
And the last one of the three 100s, came when Bangladesh came to SA in 2002/03. Gibbs scored a daddy hundred of 153 in the 1st ODI and SA won by 168 runs. SA later won both ODI and Test series 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.
5) AB de Villiers (SA)
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Probably modern-day cricket’s most versatile cricketer, ABD, scored his three consecutive centuries in 2010. Two against India in India when South Africa toured India and one against West Indies when South Africa toured WI.
The first century came in an intense pressure situation. This was the match where Sachin scored 200* runs and India made a mega score of 401/3 in 50 overs. In reply, SA crumbled down and managed only 248 and was all-out in 42.5 overs. All the other SA batsmen had failed to even cross 35 runs. This lion heart batsman went on to score 114 of 101 balls. And stayed not out till the end. Isn’t he a class apart?
6) Quinton de Kock (SA)
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This another wicket-keeper batsman managed to score three consecutive tons against India. India team was on tour of SA in 2013/14 (for 3 ODIs and 2 Tests). QDK scored centuries in all the three consecutive ODIs. SA won the ODI series 2-0. The third match was abandoned due to rain after the South African innings.
7) Ross Taylor (NZ)
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In 2014, India went to NZ for 5 ODIs and 2 Tests. NZ won the ODI series clinically 4-0.
Ross Taylor played his part in the 4th and 5th ODIs by scoring back to back hundreds. And then almost a year later scored another ton in Dubai against Pakistan. However, NZ lost this thriller to Pakistan by 3 wickets with only 3 balls remaining.
8) Babar Azam (Pak)
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WI team had come to UAE in 2016/17 for 3 T20s, 3 ODIs, and 3 Tests. Pakistan was dominant throughout the tour. Babar Azam scored centuries in all the three ODIs and PAK won the ODI series 3-0 quite effortlessly.
9) Jonny Bairstow (Eng)
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In 2018, England toured NZ for 5 ODIs and 2 Tests. Bairstow helped his side in the last 2 ODIs with back to back tons. England lost the 4th ODI. NZ hunted down the mighty target of 336 set by the English and won by 5 wickets. But thanks to Bairstow’s 100 in the 2nd innings of the 5th ODI, England won the series decider by 7 wickets. England won the series 3-2.
The third hundred came against Scotland. This match was an unexpected thriller, as Scotland had asked England to chase a mammoth score of 372. Bairstow did his best while chasing. But in the end, England was all out on 365 and lost by 6 runs with 2 balls remaining. Jonny Bairstow became the first English cricketer to score three consecutive ODI centuries.
10) Virat Kohli (Ind)
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The latest addition to the list is King Kohli. Fans and experts admire him as the current best batsman in the world. Kohli scored his record 36th, 37th and 38th ODI ton in the first three matches of the 5-match ODI series against WI. Virat Kohli became the first Indian cricketer to score the hattrick of ODI centuries.
Unfortunately, he could not take his side home in the 3rd ODI. This was partly due to the lack of support from the rest of the team and partly due to some amazing cricket played by WI. Also, the 2nd ODI had resulted in a tie. But the way he was batting, chances were he might score hundreds in the next two matches as well. However, in the next match, West Indies bowler Kemar Roach took Virat’s wicket when he was on 16 runs.
Thus Kumar Sangakkara still holds the record for the most consecutive ODI centuries.
The fact that so far only ten players managed to achieve this feat only increases our admiration for these exceptional cricketers. Fans will remember their achievements for a long time to come, if not forever.
(Last updated October 29, 2018)
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