The Ten Fastest 50s in T20I Cricket

As the T20I format evolves further, we are witnessing some unbelievable batting knocks from batters. They are fearless and more powerful to destroy any kind of bowling attack.

This amazing combination has resulted in batters scoring runs at a faster pace without wasting too many balls. And it’s quite necessary to smash quick runs to bolster the team’s total in the shortest format

In this run-scoring frenzy, we have seen many batters bring up fifties by consuming fewer balls. Here we will look at the 10 fastest 50s in T20I cricket.

10. Martin Akayezu (Rwanda) | 16 Balls vs Ghana, 2021

Rwanda’s Martin Akayezu played a heroic knock against Ghana while chasing the target of 165 runs. Coming to bat at No. 5, Akayezu made his intentions clear by striking 2 sixes and a four on the first 3 deliveries he faced.

The right-hander only dealt with boundaries, smashing 3 fours and 6 sixes. Akayezu reached his fifty off 16 balls, making it the fastest by a Rwandan batter in T20Is.

9. Shai Hope (West Indies) | 16 Balls vs Bangladesh, 2018

Shai Hope blasted a 16-ball half-century in a low-scoring game against Bangladesh in 2018. While chasing 130 runs, Hope was on the charge, opening the inning.

A couple of balls under his belt, and the Caribbean batter started dispatching the ball across the park. He especially targeted Mehidy Hasan Miraz, bashing him for 5 sixes and a four.

Hope completed his half-century with a ball to spare in the powerplay, pushing the team closer to the target. He eventually got out on 55 runs, smashing 3 fours and 9 sixes in the process.

8. Babar Hayat (Hong Kong) | 15 Balls vs UAE, 2023

Hong Kong were taking on the UAE in the Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series in 2023. Batting first, Hong Kong were cruising smoothly at 139 for 2 in the 16th over.

Enter Babar Hayat, and he demolished the UAE’s bowlers in the death overs, smashing them for 5 fours and as many sixes. In the meantime, he brought up his 50 off 15 balls.

Hayat’s carnage helped Hong Kong post a formidable 212 runs on the board and beat the UAE by 69 runs.

7. Quinton de Kock (South Africa) | 15 Balls vs West Indies, 2023

Quinton de Kock is known for his ability to accumulate quick runs. And the southpaw unleashed his beast against the West Indies in 2023.

South Africa were chasing a mighty 259-run target, and they needed a thunderous start. De Kock just did that with finesse from the first ball.

He hammered boundaries for fun, scoring his fifty off 15 balls at the start of the fourth over. De Kock continued his massacre and went on to score a scintillating century off 43 deliveries.

His hundred, which included 9 fours and 8 sixes, helped South Africa crush the steep target, making it the highest successful run chase in T20Is.

6. Faisal Khan (Saudi Arabia) | 15 Balls vs Kuwait, 2019

Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Khan was on a roll against Kuwait during the ACC Western Region T20 match in 2019. Saudi Arabia were chasing the 136-run target set by Kuwait.

They were 20 for 1, and Faisal Khan walked in the middle. He took matters into his own hands and hammered a quick half-century in 15 balls.

A few more wickets fell on the other side, but that didn’t stop him. Khan remained unbeaten on 83 runs, slamming 7 fours and as many sixes to take Saudi Arabia home.

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5. Ramesh Satheesan (Romania) | 14 Balls vs Serbia, 2021

Romania were up against Serbia in the semi-final of the Sofia Quandrangular T20 Series in 2021. Batting first, Serbia mustered only 115 runs in their 20 overs.

Romania’s captain, Ramesh Satheesan, opened the innings with Taranjeet Singh and aced the chase like a boss. They gunned down the target even before the powerplay ended.

In the meantime, Satheesan reached the 50-run mark in 14 balls and remained not out on 56, smashing 6 fours and 5 sixes.

4. Colin Munro (New Zealand) | 14 Balls vs Sri Lanka, 2016

Colin Munro was a clean striker of the bat for New Zealand. He showed his power-hitting masterclass against Sri Lanka in 2016.

The Blackcaps were chasing the 143-run target, and Martin Guptill’s (63 off 25) rampage had put them on the brink of an easy win. After Guptill’s departure on 89, Munro kept the tempo going with force.

He accumulated an unbeaten 50 off just 14 balls, going past Guptill’s record of 19 balls in the same match. Munro’s scoring boost helped the Kiwis wrap up the chase in 10 overs.

3. Mirza Ahsan (Austria) | 13 Balls vs Luxembourg, 2019

Mirza Ahsan, representing Austria, notched up the third-fastest fifty in the T20I format. Austria were playing against Luxembourg in the 2019 Continental Cup.

After electing to bat first, Austria were in a strong position at 187 for 3. Then Ahsan strode out on the crease and hammered a 13-ball fifty to power Austria to 239 runs.

2. Yuvraj Singh (India) | 12 Balls vs England, 2007

Yuvraj Singh’s carnage against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup is quite famous. After being 3 down on 155 with 3 overs to go, Yuvraj Singh took up the mantle to provide a strong finish.

He blasted a couple of boundaries in Andrew Flintoff’s over and later had a fiery verbal exchange with him, which charged Yuvraj to another level.

In the next over, he launched 6 consecutive sixes, bringing up his half-century in just 12 balls. It was the fastest fifty at that time, and Yuvraj held the record for 16 years until 2023.

1. Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) | 9 Balls vs Mongolia, 2023

Nepal’s Diprendra Singh Airee went past Yuvraj’s record by scoring a 9-ball 50 in 2023. Nepal were playing against Mongolia in the opening match of the 2023 Asian Games.

Batting first, Nepali batters gave debutant Mongolian bowlers a heavy hammering. When Airee came to bat, Nepal were already sitting at 259 for 3, with 11 balls to finish the innings.

Aerie faced 2 wide balls and then launched a barrage of sixes in his 10-ball knock. He reached his half-century in a mere 9 balls, making it the fastest 50 in T20I cricket.

Airee’s ruthless batting display propelled Nepal to the highest T20I total of 314 runs.

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