Scoring a century is a remarkable achievement in all formats of cricket while a double or triple hundred is one of the special milestones in test or first-class cricket. Especially, in men’s List A format, which is also a one-day cricket played in a 50-over contest that is played for upto 8 hours, a batter scoring 200 runs or more in a faster method makes the achievement much more special.
Recently, the New Zealand batsman Chad Bowes set a new trending record of scoring the fastest double century in List A cricket. The Canterbury opening batter achieved this remarkable feat in just 103 balls against Otago in the ongoing Ford Trophy 2024-25. Also, he surpassed the previous record jointly held by the Australian batsman Travis Head and Indian wicketkeeper-batsman N Jagadeesan.
Players such as Ben Duckett, Jamie How, Ishan Kishan, D’Arcy Short, Glenn Maxwell, and Prithvi Shaw took more than 120 balls to rank among other fastest-scoring double centurions.
Let’s find out how Chad Bowes’ fabulous innings set a standard for swiftness and dominance in white-ball cricket, which helped him rank at the leading position in the ranks of the top 10 fastest double-century-scoring batsmen in List A cricket.
1. Chad Bowes (NEW ZEALAND): 103 balls vs Otago (2024)
The latest record-breaking fastest double-century in List A cricket achieved in just 103 balls makes New Zealand’s Chad Bowes top the list. Playing one of the instant and most aggressive knocks, Bowes scored 205 runs from 110 balls (including 27 fours and 7 sixes) at a strike rate of 186.36. The right-handed batter guided his team to post a total of 343-9 in 50 overs. Also, he created a sensation in the cricketing world by establishing his name as the all-time leading fastest double centurion in the List A format.
2. Travis Head (AUSTRALIA): 114 balls vs Queensland (2021)
It is the second time that the Australian cricketer Travis Head scored another double hundred in just 114 balls. Playing for South Australia in the Marsh Cup 2021, Head’s 230 runs from 127 balls (including 28 fours and 8 sixes) against Queensland with a batting strike rate of 181.10, boosted his team’s total to 391-8 in 48 overs. The 30-year-old Aussie batter’s ability to accumulate runs consistently at a faster rate ranks him as a top-notch player in Australia’s domestic league.
3. Narayan Jagadeesan (INDIA): 114 balls vs Arunachal Pradesh (2022)
Tamil Nadu’s wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan accomplished the second joint-fastest double century in List A cricket in just 114 balls during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 against Arunachal Pradesh. The right-handed batter played his career-best knock by scoring 277 runs from just 141 balls (including 25 fours and 15 sixes) at a strike rate of 196.45 that helped Tamil Nadu post a mammoth total of 506-2 in 50 overs.
4. Travis Head (AUSTRALIA): 117 balls vs Western Australia (2015)
Chasing a high score target of 351 runs against Western Australia in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup 2015, Australia’s Travis Head established his name in the record books by scoring one of the fastest double centuries of the 50-over format in just 117 balls. South Australia’s opening batter with an aggressive approach scored 202 runs from 120 balls (including 20 fours and 12 sixes) at a strike rate of 168.33, which helped his team chase the target by scoring 354-4 in 46.3 overs. This was one such inning that exhibited Head’s ability to convert starts into high-scoring innings.
5. Ben Duckett (ENGLAND): 123 balls vs Sri Lanka A (2016)
England’s left-handed batsman Ben Duckett’s 123-ball double century became the talking point of the town while playing for England Lions. The opening batter played a masterclass innings by scoring 220 runs from just 131 balls (including 29 fours and 6 sixes) that steered the Lions to a total of 425-1 in 50 overs.
6. Jamie How (NEW ZEALAND): 126 balls vs Northern Districts (2013)
New Zealand’s batter Jamie How scored a 126-ball double century for Central Districts in the 2013 Ford Trophy against the Northern Districts. As a top-order batter, Jamie scored 222 runs from 138 balls (including 27 fours and 8 sixes), which helped his team secure a 19-run victory by posting a total of 417-6 in 50 overs.
7. Ishan Kishan (INDIA): 126 balls vs Bangladesh (2022)
Team India’s wicketkeeper and opening batter Ishan Kishan added an exceptional record in his career by scoring a 126-ball double century against Bangladesh in the third and final match of the ODI series in 2022. The left-handed batter scored 210 runs from 131 balls (including 24 fours and 10 sixes) and achieved the fastest double hundred in the history of ODI (One Day Internationals). His quickfire knock created a storm in the cricket world by guiding his team to a total of 409-8 in 50 overs.
8. D’Arcy Short (AUSTRALIA): 128 balls vs Queensland (2018)
Australian left-handed batsman D’Arcy Short made an effective contribution as a top-order batter for Western Australia by scoring a 128-ball double-century against Queensland in the JLT One-Day Cup 2018. His dominating performance of 257 runs from 148 balls (including 15 fours and 23 sixes) highlighted his power-hitting skills that established his status as Australia’s explosive top-order batter.
9. Glenn Maxwell (AUSTRALIA): 128 balls vs Afghanistan (2023)
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell played one of the most memorable knocks of his life by scoring 128-ball-201 runs (including 21 fours and 10 sixes) against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023. It was indeed the second-fastest double-century in ODI as well as World Cup history.
Despite struggling with a back injury, Maxwell single-handedly recovered his team’s innings from a collapsed start and steered to a successful run chase as Australia reached a total of 293-7 in just 46.5 overs and left an outstanding record in the tournament.
10. Prithvi Shaw (INDIA): 129 balls vs Somerset (2023)
Indian right-handed batter Prithvi Shaw recorded his 129-ball double ton against Somerset in the One-Day Cup 2023. The Northamptonshire’s opening batter scored 244 runs from 153 balls (including 28 fours and 11 fours) at a strike rate of 159.47, which helped his team secure an 87-run victory by posting a total of 415-8 in 50 overs.
As a 24-year-old cricketer, Shaw’s adaptability and competency to tackle against spin and pace bowling variations make him one of the valuable emerging talents for the Indian cricket team.
