Batsmen who scored hundred in their 100th game

Shikhar Dhawan (109 off 105 balls) with the help of a sublime hundred in the Pink ODI against South Africa at Johannesburg joined an elite list of batsmen who have scored a hundred in their landmark 100th game. In a knock glittered with 11 fours and two sixes, Dhawan toyed with the South African pace attack to all corners of the Wanderers. He became the first Indian and overall ninth batsman to achieve the coveted feat.

There have been only eight batsmen previously in the history of one-day international cricket who rose to the occasion and celebrated it with a magnanimous hundred. As Shikhar Dhawan becomes the newest member of the elite cube, let us take a look at this esteemed company.

#1 Gordon Greenidge (102* off 154 balls)

Match: Pakistan vs West Indies, Champions Trophy Sharjah 1988

The first cricketer to achieve this rare feat was the great West Indian opener and a former Barbadian first-class cricketer, Gordon Greenidge. Greenidge achieved the feat against Pakistan at Sharjah in the 2nd ODI of the Champions trophy, 1988. Batting first, Pakistan buoyed by a tenacious display by their top order led by Muddassar Nazar (64) and Javed Miandad (79) posted a belligerent 6-294 in the first innings.

Greenidge (102*) played a pristine knock only to be let down by his fellow batsmen, thanks to a certain Wasim Akram (3/37) as the West Indies went on to lose the game by 84 runs.

Result: Pakistan won by 84 runs.

#2 Chris Cairns (115 off 106 balls)

Match: New Zealand vs India, Lancaster Park, Christchurch 1999

Chris Cairns had a particular liking towards the Indian bowlers and it was on full show at Lancaster Park in Christchurch 1999 when he en route to 115, plundered the Indian bowling attack to all corners. His innings helped New Zealand post the eventual match-winning total of 8-300.

Sourav Ganguly (60) and Azharuddin (63) lead India's reply but the visitors eventually came up short against the duo of Gavin Larsen (2/34) and Chris Harris (4/40) by 70 runs.Chris Cairns picked up the 'Player of the Match' in a game that saw him join Gordon Greenidge in the coveted list.

Result: New Zealand won by 70 runs.

#3 Mohammed Yousuf (129 off 131 balls)

Match: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah Cup Final, 2002

One of the most elegant batsmen from the subcontinent Mohammed Yousuf became the third member of the coveted list. Yousuf achieved the feat with a pristine knock of 129 against Sri Lanka in the Final of Sharjah Cup in 2002.

Buoyed by Yousuf's nonchalant knock Pakistan posted a mammoth 6-295 in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka were never really in the game as they were skilled out for a mere 79, capping off the historic occasion, Yousuf was on a high.

Result: Pakistan won by 217 runs.

#4 Kumar Sangakkara (101 off 110 balls)

Match: Sri Lanka vs Australia, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo 2004

Another Asian to power his way into the list is Sri Lankan legendary batsman, Kumar Sangakkara. Albeit in a losing cause, but Sangakkara's knock in his 100th ODI was of the highest class in front of a capacity crowd at the Premadasa in Colombo.

Chasing 234 on a sticky Premadasa track, Sangakkara peppered the off side with pristine ease, however, others couldn't offer much resistance against Michael Kasprowicz whose match-winning figures of 5-45 spoiled Sangakkara's magnanimous achievement.

Result: Australia won by 40 runs.

#5 Chris Gayle (132 off 165 balls)

Match: England vs West Indies, Natwest Trophy, Lords 2004

Joining his fellow Caribbean, Gordon Greenidge, is the magnanimous Chris Gayle. Having debuted in 1999 against India, Gayle with his fearsome stroke play turned heads early in his nascent career and established himself as one of World's most destructive openers.

Gayle celebrated his 100th ODI with a blistering hundred as his breathtaking strokeplay pulverized the English bowlers into submission. It was the eighth ODI of the 2004 Natwest Trophy (triangular with New Zealand being the third team) between West Indies and England, and the hosts batting first posted a competitive 7-285 in 50 overs, thanks to Andrew Strauss (100) and Andrew Flintoff (123), and then they ran into a rampaging Chris Gayle. Gayle muscled his way to a brilliant 132, setting up a seven-wicket win for the Caribbean side.

Result: West Indies won by seven wickets.

#6 Marcus Trescothick (100 off 76 balls)

Match: England vs Bangladesh, Natwest Trophy, Oval 2005.

Within a year, another left-handed opener got his name into the coveted list when England's Marcus Trescothick powered his way to an unbeaten hundred off 76 balls against Bangladesh at the Oval. It was then the second highest ODI hundred by an English batsman.

England had inserted Bangladesh in at the Oval who found themselves in a lot of trouble meandering at 6-76 at one point. Aftab Ahmed (51) was the only shining light in a rather insipid batting display by Bangladesh as they were bowled out for a mere 190, which English openers Andrew Strauss (82*) and Marcus Trescothick (100*) chased with ease. Trescothick's hundred also saw him break the English record of most ODI hundreds previously held by Graham Gooch (eight).

Result: England won by ten wickets.

#7 Ramnaresh Sarwan (115 not out off 119 balls)

Match: West Indies vs India, 3rd ODI Basseterre, 2006

The stylish West Indian middle-order batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan, makes his way to the coveted list, the third Caribbean to do so. Sarwan was a vital cog in a fledgling West Indian batting outfit in the 2000s often being their savior. It was the third ODI of the five-match series between the hosts and India.

India, after electing to bat first looked well on course for a prominent target thanks to a 112 run stand between Virender Sehwag (97) and Mohammed Kaif (62). However, seven wickets were lost for just 68 runs and India was restricted to a below par 9-245.West Indies, in their reply too had an uncertain start and were restricted to 2-31 in ten overs when Sarwan came to the fore. Sarwan, as evident from his past record against India, rose to the best of his ability particularly against the Men in Blue and he was at it again when he came up against them in his 100th ODI and scored a Brobdingnagian hundred to set up a four-wicket win for the hosts.

Result: West Indies won by four wickets.

#8 David Warner (124 off 119 balls)

Match: India vs Australia, 4th ODI M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru 2017

The only Aussie to feature in the list is the 'pocket-sized dynamo' as he is fondly called by the cricketing folklore for his intensity and raw aggression. Warner has had ordinary Test returns in India across eight matches with an average hovering around 20. However, it would be ludicrous to write him off in white ball cricket.

Warner epitomized that to its hilt when he celebrated his 100th ODI appearance for Australia with a breathtaking hundred in the fourth ODI against India at Bengaluru. His 124 off 119 balls coupled with Aaron Finch's 94 helped Australia post a mammoth 5-334 in fifty overs, which eventually proved to be too much for the hosts as they could only muster 8-313, losing the game by 21 runs. Warner's hundred was magnanimous on two counts: Firstly, he became only the eight and first Aussie cricketer to score a hundred in his 100th limited overs appearance and secondly because it helped Australia to their solitary win in a series they eventually lost 1-4.

Result: Australia won by 21 runs.