Top 10: Fastest Fifties in ODI Cricket

The former South African captain, AB de Villiers, holds the record for scoring the fastest ODI fifty off 16 balls. And he also holds the record for scoring the fastest ODI Century.

In this article, we will talk about the top 10 fastest fifties in ODI cricket.

10. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 18 Balls

Former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi features in this list three times. He scored a fifty from 18 balls against Bangladesh in match 8 of the Asia Cup 2014. Bangladesh, batting first, scored 326 runs from their 50 overs with Anamul Haque’s ton, and Saeed Ajmal took 2 wickets.

Pakistan, in the run chase, were off to a good start. They got an opening partnership of 97 runs between Ahmed Shahzad and Mohammad Hafeez.

Afridi came in to bat when Pakistan’s score was 225/5 from 41.2 overs. The hard-hitting all-rounder smashed 59 runs from 25 balls, helping his team chase the target in 49.5 overs.

9. Glenn Maxwell (Australia) | 18 Balls

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also scored a fifty from 18 balls. He achieved this feat against India in 2013.

Maxwell scored a quickfire 60 from 22 balls, while Australia were in deep trouble in the run chase of 384 runs. When Maxwell came out to bat, Australia were reeling at 74/4 runs from 16.5 overs.

The spin-bowling all-rounder took Ravichandran Ashwin to the cleaners before Vinay Kumar took his wicket. Australia lost the match by 57 runs.

8. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 18 Balls

Shahid Afridi is again on the list with an 18-ball half-century against the Netherlands. He did it at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, in match 10 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002.

The Netherlands, batting first, were dismissed for just 136 runs from 50 overs. Shahid Afridi, with the ball, took 3 wickets for 18 runs from his 10 overs.

Pakistan chased down the total in just 16.2 overs. Pakistan had a solid opening partnership of 85 runs between Imran Nazir and Saeed Anwar. Afridi, batting at 3, came out with intent, Scoring 55* runs from 18 balls, He took on Adeel Raja and Edgar Schiferli.

7. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 18 Balls

In the year 1996, Shahid Afridi scored a half-century from 18 balls against Sri Lanka in Nairobi. He went on to smash a 37-ball century, a knock consisting of 11 sixes and 6 fours.

Pakistan scored 371/9 runs from their 50 overs. Sri Lanka lost the match by 82 runs.

6. Simon O’Donnell (Australia) | 17 Balls

Former Australian batter Simon O’Donnell smashed a 17-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 1990 at Sharjah. Australia, batting first, put up a huge total of 332/3 runs on the board, with O’Donnell contributing 74 runs from just 29 balls.

He came out to bat when Australia were 172/2. He took them to 278 runs, stitching an aggressive partnership with Dean Jones. Sri Lanka lost the match by 114 runs as Australia dismissed them for 218 runs.

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5. Liam Livingstone (England) | 17 Balls

England’s hard-hitting spin bowling all-rounder, Liam Livingstone, smashed a 17-ball half-century against the Netherlands in 2022.

He scored 66* runs from 22 balls, helping England reach a record total of 498/4 from their 50 overs. Captain Jos Buttler smashed 162* runs from 70 balls, and Phil Salt and Dawid Malan too smashed centuries.

In the run chase, the Netherlands were dismissed for 266 runs from 49.4 overs.

4. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) | 17 Balls

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill scored fifty from 17 balls in a run chase against Sri Lanka in 2015. Sri Lanka, batting first, were all out for just 117 runs from 27.4 overs.

New Zealand chased down the target of 118 runs in 8.2 overs itself, with Martin Guptill scoring 93* runs from 30 balls and Tom Latham scoring 17* runs from 20 balls. New Zealand won the match by 10 wickets.

3. Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) | 17 Balls

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batter Kusal Perera scored a 17-ball half-century against Pakistan in 2015. Pakistan, batting first, scored 287/8 runs in their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka chased down the target in 48.1 overs, with Kusal Perera scoring 68 runs from 25 balls. He took Sri Lanka to 92 runs from 8.2 overs.

2. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) | 17 Balls

Former Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya scored a 17-ball fifty against Pakistan in the final of the Singer Cup. Despite a quick-fire knock from Sanath, Sri Lanka lost the match by 43 runs as they failed to chase the target of 216 runs.

1. AB de Villiers (South Africa) | 16 Balls

Former South African wicketkeeper batter and captain AB de Villiers smashed the fastest ODI fifty. He achieved this feat against the West Indies in 2015. South Africa, batting first, were off to a great start, with both openers, Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw, scoring their centuries.

ABD came to bat at 3. He completed his fifty from 16 balls and scored the century from 31 balls, which is the fastest in the ODI format. The South African captain was dismissed one run short of 150. He ended up with 149 runs from 44 balls.