T20 Cricket revolutionized cricket in such a way that it made us believe in many things that seemed impossible some decades ago. There was a time in the ’90s when even a run ball half-century by a batsman would be considered a very aggressive knock. There was a time when a concept of even scoring 280 – 290 + in a 50 over the game was considered to be a big deal. However, the advent of the T20 format has simply changed our cricketing mindset with new records achieved almost every other day.
The format has also given us some of the most entertaining players who made us go in awe of their power hitting. Also with every passing year, a new part of the ground is being explored by a batsman and a new shot is being invented which further adds spice to this wonderful game.
Hence, Sportscult takes you back to those 10 players who hold the record for fastest fifties in T20 Internationals.
1) Yuvraj Singh- 12 balls, India vs England, 2007 World T20
No one can forget this epic match which without any exaggeration made the T20 Format worldwide famous. Yes, the famous brawl between Flintoff and Yuvraj which triggered Yuvi who unleashed onto broad with 6 stunning sixes in an over in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup. It was a knock that not only shattered records but also helped India win in supreme style. Yuvraj scored 58 off 16 balls at a strike rate of 362.50 which included 3 fours and 7 sixes. It was his knock which also helped him earn the “man of the match” award. The match also helped India cruise towards a comfortable win.
2) Chris Gayle – 12 balls, Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers in Big Bash, 2016
The big man from Jamaica, the Universe Boss, yes we are talking about Chris Gayle who is by far the most successful T20 batsman the game has ever seen. When he hits the ball, it clears the park with ease without moving an inch of the crease. The way he smashes also demoralizes the bowler’s confidence who work for endless hours in the nets just to be treated like a backyard bowler!
It was in Big Bash League’16 where Gayle opening the innings plonked 7 sixes for Melbourne Renegades en-route his 12 balls 50. His innings also equaled Yuvraj Singh’s record of the fastest half-century in T20 Cricket. However, that knock did not help Renegades to push through a win as they were all out for 143 chasings 170 which eventually meant an exit for them from the 2016 edition.
3) Hazratullah Zazai- 12 balls, Kabul Zwanan vs Balkh Legends, Sharjah, 2018
It was a grand arrival for Hazratullah Zazai at the International stage as well as the most ideal marketing for the newly inducted T20 Afghan Premier League. Zazai made headlines smashing one of the most brutal knocks of 2018. Playing for Kabul Zwanan, Zazai opening the innings smashed 62 in mere 17 deliveries which included 7 monster sixes clubbed with 4 boundaries. Hazratullah in that match also stitched an 86-run opening stand with Luke Ronchi in mere 35 balls chasing Balkh’s total of 244/6.
4) Mirza Ahsan – 13 balls, Austria vs Luxemburg in ICC Continental Cup 2019
Playing for a small and developing cricket team like Austria, Mirza Ahsan lived his life bringing not only Austria team on Centre stage but also creating his own identity in cricket. Playing against Luxemburg, Ahsan who came at no.5 went all guns blazing scoring a blistering 51* off 14 balls at a strike rate of 364.28. Ahsan’s knock consisted 7 sixes while it also helped his team win by a massive margin of 135 runs.
5) Colin Munro – 14 balls, NZ vs Sri Lanka, Bilateral T20 Series 2016
Eden Park was set on fire as Colin Munro who from the very beginning made a name for himself as a clean striker of the ball stayed true to his reputation. Munro annihilated Sri Lankan bowling attack into pieces covering every corner of the ground. Coming in to bat at no.3, Munro stayed at the crease for mere 16 minutes but the impact he left behind was a half century which took mere 14 balls. Chasing 143, NZ won the match with ease and it was Munro who smashed 7 sixes in the game at a strike rate of 357.14 was declared “man of the match”
6) Kieron Pollard – 14 balls, Trinidad & Tobago vs Leeward Islands, Antigua, 2012
West Indies with the help of Andre Russell, Pollard and Gayle have made a name for themselves as a T20 Specialist side known to give the toughest of teams a run for the money. Pollard in one such game made mockery of the Leeward Island bowlers smashing 7 sixes in his knock of 53 which took only 14 balls and 18 minutes at the crease. Pollard’s 14 ball fifty is still amongst the fastest fifties in T20 Cricket and also the fastest in Caribbean Premier League.
7) Imran Nazir – 14 balls, Yorkshire vs Derbyshire, Derby, 2006
There was always a bit of nonchalant swagger attached to this batsman. Nazir made a huge fanbase in Pakistan due to his aggressive batting histrionics in the early 2000s. Even though he did not live up to the expectations, nazir did gave glimpses of brilliance like his quickfire 160 vs Zimbabwe in the 2007 World Cup. Imran still plays in many T20 leagues and it was vs Derbyshire in 2006, Imran smacked a 14 ball half-century. It was that know where he let everyone know about his abilities in England’s domestic set up. Imran’s knock consisted 6 sixes and he was declared ‘man of the match’ in that game which helped Yorkshire win in a commanding manner.
8) KL Rahul – 14 balls, Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils, Mohali, 2018
That half-century of KL Rahul still feels as if he scored that yesterday! The reason why his knock is special and stands apart from others is that he played proper cricketing shots to reach his half-century. Rahul took only 14 deliveries to reach the fastest IPL half-century. Some of his sixes were the result of pure timing and it was because of his elegance KL Rahul’s 51 vs Delhi Daredevils will be remembered for a long time. The way he began from the very 1st over vs Trent Boult to smashing Amit Mishra for 24 runs in an over was a clear indicator of what was about to hit Delhi Daredevils. Rahul’s 51 included 6 fours and 4 sixes much to the entertainment of the fans. As the commentator, Michael Holding rightly said “he has not even dropped a sweat to reach his half-century, so much effortless and class is KL Rahul”
9) Faisal Khan – 15 balls, Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait, ACC Western Region T20 Contest 2017
Faisal Khan who represents Saudi Arabia team smashed a 28 ball 83 vs Kuwait. Faisal reached his fifty in just 15 balls to enter the record books. It was a knock which Saudi boys will remember for lifetime as he sits in an elite company of players who have dominated the game for years across the world. Faisal plonked 7 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 296.42 which helped Saudi Arabia chase down the total of 136 with more than 10 overs to spare!
10) Shai Hope – 16 balls, West Indies vs Bangladesh, 2018
It won’t be an overstatement to say that Shai Hope looked completely unstoppable vs Bangladesh on 17th of December 2018. Chasing 130, Shai made the total look easy as West Indies won the match with almost 10 overs to spare. Hope’s innings consisted of 6 sixes and 3 fours at a strike rate of 239.00. Shai Hope was also nicely supported by Evin Lewis as WI won that match by 8 wickets.