Stephen Fleming smashed a century off 54 balls to steer New Zealand to a nine wicket win over a World XI in the first of three fundraising one-day matches at Christchurch on Saturday.
The Kiwi skipper belted 10 fours and nine sixes in a brutal display of hitting, helping New Zealand pass the World XI's total of 158 in just 16.1 overs.
"In 15 years of playing international or first-class cricket, I don't think I've seen anyone hit the ball like that," said World XI captain Shane Warne.
"Occasionally Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar when they've got to about 100, but that was just unbelievable."
Fleming's century would have been the fourth fastest in one-day cricket history but won't count because the match was not given official status.
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Fleming smashed six sixes off Muralitharan, leaving the Sri Lankan with the unflattering figures for 0-57 from just 3.1 overs.
"It was my day and I had some fun," Fleming said. "The game was over when Murali came on to bowl so it was a tough ask for him."
The match was effectively over after the World XI, made up of past and present international players, crumbled to be all out for 158 in the 40th over.
England's Graeme Hick top scored with 44 and South African Jonty Rhodes chipped in with 36 but the total was always too small.
Fleming, opening the batting, made 106 before being dismissed just short of the target, leaving Nathan Astle (36 not out) and Chris Cairns (eight not out) to complete the victory.
The three match series was organised to raise funds for victims of the Asian tsunami and to fill a scheduling hole after Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand was postponed.
Organisers said they raised more than NZ$500,000 (US$350,000) from Saturday's opening match and hoped to take the total past $1 million after matches in Wellington and Hamilton.
"If we can get over that it's testament to the quality of personnel we've brought over but also the generosity of New Zealanders," Fleming said.
