Six Centuries in a Single Day: Global ODI Run-Fest Rewrites Cricket Record Books

Sunday, September 27, 2026, will be remembered as the day international bowlers ran out of places to hide. Across three continents, six different batters raised their bats to celebrate One-Day International centuries on the exact same afternoon, shattering the previous single-day record of five set back in September 2013.[1][2]

From the sweeping stands of The Oval in London to the high altitude of Johannesburg and the humid coast of Thiruvananthapuram, it was a synchronized masterclass in white-ball striking. The historic six-pack of tons featured a mix of maiden milestones and legendary benchmarks, headlined by Virat Kohli cementing his status in the pantheon of the sport's greatest chasers.[1]

The crown jewel of the day unfolded in Kerala, where India chased down the West Indies' competitive 295/7 with a staggering 8.2 overs to spare. The Caribbean side had set the tone early when opener Justin Greaves ground out his maiden ODI century, scoring a resilient 101 off 108 deliveries before falling to Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed 4 for 40.[3][4][5]

Greaves' milestone was quickly overshadowed by an Indian top order operating in overdrive. Captain Shubman Gill anchored the chase with a flawless 110 off 108 balls. But it was Kohli who turned the stadium into a frenzy, unleashing a brutal 139 not out off just 88 balls and launching nine sixes and 10 fours into the night sky.[4][5]

During that onslaught, Kohli crossed the mythical 15,000-run threshold in ODI cricket, becoming only the second player in history after Sachin Tendulkar to scale that mountain. The 151-run partnership between Gill and Kohli off 132 balls effectively ended the contest, putting India 1-0 up in the three-match series.[3][4]

Thousands of miles away in London, Tom Banton was busy writing his own headline. Stepping into the opener role for a decisive third ODI against Sri Lanka, Banton hammered his first international century, striking 126 off 105 balls to propel England to a massive 355/7.[6][7]

"To score a hundred for England is the best feeling on earth, I don't think anything is going to beat it," Banton told reporters after the innings. His aggression allowed captain Harry Brook to add a rapid 77 off 66 balls. Sri Lanka's chase never materialized; they collapsed for 132 in 29.1 overs, handing England a 223-run victory and a 2-1 series win.[6][7]

Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, South Africa's middle order dismantled the Australian attack to seal their own series victory. Temba Bavuma laid the foundation with a measured 103 off 116 balls, his sixth ODI century, steadying the Proteas in the second match of their series.[1][2]

Once the platform was set, David Miller took over. The veteran left-hander exploded for 142 off just 93 deliveries, a violent knock that pushed the game entirely out of Australia's reach and brought the global century tally for the day to six.[1][2]

The immediate consequence of this run-fest shifts to the upcoming fixtures. India and the West Indies travel to Guwahati for their second ODI on September 30, while Australia must regroup before facing South Africa in Potchefstroom on the same day. With batters treating 300-run targets as routine, the pressure now falls entirely on bowling coaches to engineer new defensive strategies before the next wave of matches begins.