Virender Sehwag smashes New Zealand to take series 3-0 | Sehwag fastest century | Sehwag hits India's fastest ODI ton

Virender Sehwag sped to a century from 60 balls, the seventh fastest in limited-overs international history, as India beat New Zealand by 10 wickets in a rain-reduced contest on Wednesday to clinch the series with a match to spare.

Sehwag's hundred was the fastest by an Indian batsman in one day internationals, beating Mohammad Azharuddin's 62-ball effort against New Zealand at Baroda 21 years ago, and helped clinched India's first win in a limited-overs series in New Zealand.

Sehwag finished 125 not out from 74 balls and Gautam Gambhir was 63 not out as India reached 201 without loss in 23.3 overs, replying to New Zealand's 270 from 47 overs in a rain-affected match.

India's unbroken opening partnership was the largest to win a match in one-day international history.

"I love it," Sehwag said. "I know how the pitches behave here. I played here also in 2003 and scored two hundreds that time.

"This time the pitches are so flat and good to bat on."

Sehwag blasted 14 fours and six sixes in an innings which, around three rain interruptions, occupied only 139 minutes. He rushed to a half century from 31 balls and helped India reached 100 in 54 minutes from 69 balls.

Sehwag passed his century in 87 minutes with 13 fours and four sixes, adding his second 50 from only 29 balls.

Two rain interruptions during New Zealand's innings left them facing only 47 overs and they seemed to have achieved a competitive total of 270 for five.

The following table lists the 10 fastest ODI hundreds:

Balls	Batsman	Runs	For	Against	Venue	Year
37	Shahid Afridi	102	Pak	SL	Nairobi	1996
44	Mark Boucher	147*	SA	Zim	Potchefstroom	2006
45	Brian Lara	117	WI	Ban	Dhaka	1999
45	Shahid Afridi	102	Pak	Ind	Kanpur	2005
48	Sanath Jayasuriya	134	SL	Pak	Singapore	1996
55	Sanath Jayasuriya	130	SL	Ban	Karachi	2008
60	Virender Sehwag	125*	Ind	NZ	Hamilton	2009
62	Mohd Azharuddin	108*	Ind	NZ	Baroda (MP)	1988
64	Sanath Jayasuriya	157	SL	Ned	Amstelveen	2006
64	Yuvraj Singh	138*	Ind	Eng	Rajkot	2008

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