Fastest 50s In the history of the T20 World Cup: The ICC T20 World Cup is around the corner and most countries are busy preparing for the ICC event. All the teams are preparing to find the right combination with a strong batting core before the tournament. T20 cricket, the shortest and fastest format of cricket, demands that the batsman score runs as fast as possible. A quick score of 30-40 runs or a half-century off just 25-30 balls can be a difference-maker in the outcome of a T20 match.
For a batsman, it is not always easy to score a half-century at a fast pace, but there are some instances when the batsman went fast and played some of the fastest innings in history. So in this article, we will look at the fastest fifty by a batsman in the T20 World Cup.
Top 5 Fastest 50 In the T20 World Cup
1- Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) vs England (2007)
India’s Yuvraj Singh holds the record for the fastest 50 runs in T20 cricket history. Yuvraj hit Stuart Broad for 6 sixes in 6 balls in his innings of 58 off 16 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. This Super 8 stage match of ICC T20 World Cup 2007 between India and England is remembered for Yuvraj Singh’s tremendous sixes.
Yuvi played his fabulous knock with a strike rate of 362.50. India posted a big score of 218/4 and won the match by 18 runs. However, in this match, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag also contributed equally and went through 136 runs opening partnership.
Read the top 5 highest opening Partnerships in the history of the T20 World Cup.
2- Stephan Myburgh (17 balls) vs Ireland (2014)
The second-fastest 50 came in the 12th match of the 2014 event between Ireland and the Netherlands. Both the teams showed a strong game in that match. Batting first, Ireland scored a good score of 189/4 in 20 overs. Andrew Poynter (57 off 38) and Kevin O’Brien played a brilliant cameo of 42* off 16 balls.
Chasing 190 for victory in 14.2 overs to qualify for the Super 10, Stefan Myburgh started in top gear and never slowed down. Myburgh scored the second-fastest 50 (50 off 17 balls) in the T20 World Cup. His final contribution was 7 sixes and 4 fours in 23 balls for 63 runs. The Netherlands pulled off an incredible 37-ball victory and qualified.
3- Glenn Maxwell (18 balls) vs Pakistan (2014)
There are three players who have scored the joint-third-fastest fifty in just 18 balls. But the first shot was made by Glenn Maxwell. It was the 16th match of the 2014 World Cup between Australia and Pakistan. Batting first, the Men in Green posted a really good score of 191/5 in their batting innings. Umar Akmal scored 94 runs in 54 balls.
When Maxwell came to the crease, Australia scored 8 for 2 against the Pakistan cricket team, which needed 192 runs to win. He began by showcasing his power-hitting abilities and made it clear that the chase was on. Maxwell was dismissed after scoring 74 runs in 33 balls. Sadly, the other batsmen could not get the job done and Australia suffered a 16-run defeat.
4- KL Rahul (18 balls) vs Scottland (2021)
Chasing a meager target of just 85 runs against Scotland, KL Rahul put in all his might and along with skipper Rohit Sharma helped India reach the target in just 6.3 overs. Rahul scored 50 runs in 18 balls which included 6 fours and 3 sixes and he got out in the 6th over. India cricket team won the match by 8 wickets. KL Rahul hit the combined 3rd fastest 50 in the T20 World Cup History.
5- Shoaib Malik (18 balls) vs Scottland (2021)
Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik equaled India opener KL Rahul and Glenn Maxwell’s record for the fastest 50 in T20 World Cup 2021. Malik achieved the feat in the match against Scotland as Pakistan finished the Super 12 stage on a high.
Babar and Hafeez gave a good start to Pakistan, who came to bat first. Coming in the 16th over, Shoaib Malik scored 54 runs in just 18 balls (1 four and 6 sixes) to provide a fine finish to the innings. Pakistan scored a total of 189 runs in their 20 overs and won the match comfortably by 72 runs.
List of Top 10 fastest 50s in the T20 World Cup
| Batsman | Team | Balls | Against | Year |
| Yuvraj Singh | India | 12 | England | 2007 |
| Stephan Myburgh | Netherlands | 17 | Ireland | 2014 |
| Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 18 | Pakistan | 2014 |
| KL Rahul | India | 18 | Scotland | 2021 |
| Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 18 | Scotland | 2021 |
| M. Ashraful | Bangladesh | 20 | West Indies | 2007 |
| Yuvraj Singh | India | 20 | Australia | 2007 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 21 | Kenya | 2007 |
| E Chigumbura | Zimbabwe | 21 | UAE | 2014 |
| Quinton De Kock | South Africa | 21 | England | 2016 |
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