BASSETERRE (St Kitts), March 24: Australia opener Matthew Hayden smashed the fastest century in World Cup history on Saturday.

Hayden reached the landmark in 66 balls in the Group A match against South Africa at Warner Park here beating the previous best century of 67 balls set by Canada's John Davison against the West Indies at Centurion in 2003.

He achieved the record with a six off South African skipper Graeme Smith before Jacques Kallis dismissed the tall left-hander for 101 in the next over.—AFP

Fastest World Cup 100s

(Tabulated under finishing score, balls required to reach 100, player, team, opponents, venue, date):

101 66 M.L. Hayden Australia South Africa St Kitts 24/03/2007

111 67 J.M. Davison Canada West Indies Centurion 23/02/2003

175* 72 Kapil Dev India Zimbabwe Tunbridge Wells 18/06/1983

114 81 V. Sehwag India Bermuda Trinidad 19/03/2007

102 82 C.H. Lloyd West Indies Australia Lord's 21/06/1975

123 82 B.J. Hodge Australia Netherlands St Kitts 18/03/2007

111 83 B.C. Lara West Indies South Africa Karachi 11/03/1996

140 84 S.R. TendulkarIndia Kenya Bristol 23/05/1999

103* 85 S.M. Gavaskar India New Zealand Nagpur 31/10/1987

113 85 R.T. Ponting Australia Scotland St Kitts 14/03/2007