Anderson happy to see ODI record taken

New Zealand batsman Corey Anderson's hold on the record for the fastest century in one-day international history has lasted little more than a year.

AB de Villiers bludgeoned his way to three figures from just 31 balls on Sunday to beat Anderson's mark – set on January 1 last year – by five balls.

It came as South Africa thrashed the West Indies – the same opposition battered by Anderson in Queenstown – by 148 runs in the second one-day international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

De Villiers went on to hit 149 off just 44 balls as South Africa amassed 2-439 and the Windies managed 7-291 in reply.

Anderson, preparing for the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka in Nelson on Tuesday, was philosophical about losing his grip on a piece of cricket history.

"Records are there to be broken – congratulations to AB; it was obviously a hell of an innings.

"It's just one of those things – it's always going to happen."

But Anderson did not rule out the mark being lowered again.

"We've got the World Cup around the corner so that could be a good chance for someone to take it down," he said.

Anderson after his 36-ball century in Queenstown // Getty Images

Opening batsmen Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw also hit centuries with the pair putting on 247 for the first wicket.

Amla cracked 153 not out from 142 balls, while Rossouw hit his 128 off 115 deliveries before De Villiers cut loose.

He reached 50 from 16 balls, breaking Sanath Jayasuriya's previous record for the fastest half-century, and his innings included 16 sixes, equalling Rohit Sharma's world record.

England batsman Joe Root described De Villiers as "a bit of a freak" before saying the Proteas were setting the benchmark for other teams to follow.

"Those are the sort of things were slowly aiming towards," Root told reporters in Brisbane, where England play India in the third Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match on Tuesday.

"It would be a serious effort to get anywhere near that, but as a side that's our aim, to consistently make big scores or chase them down."

Asked if he thought the balance had swung too much in favour of batsmen, England's one-day No.3 laughed, before answering "No!".

"I think that (De Villiers innigns) is just amazing skill," Root added.

"You can change the rules as much as you like … you can put another stump in if you want, if he's hitting the ball out the middle of the bat like that, then you know, good luck to them.

"He's not missing too many if he's getting 100 off 31 balls. You could have had five or six stumps and I'm sure he would have still got it."