Fastest half-centuries in ODI cricket
England batter Liam Livingstone recently joined the elite list of batters to stroke the fastest fifty in ODI cricket. The right-handed batter completed his fifty in just 17 deliveries against the Netherlands and registered his name in the record books. However, some other batting legends have achieved this feat in similar deliveries or bettered Livingstone. On that note, let us take a look at the three fastest fifties in ODI cricket.
3. Simon O’Donnell vs Sri Lanka – 18 balls
Australia batter Simon O’Donnell held the fastest fifty-run record for a very long time. The batter achieved this record against Sri Lanka in May 1990. Donnell completed his fifty in just 18 deliveries and stroked 74 off just 29 balls against Sri Lanka in a 114-run victory for mighty Australia in the second semi-final of the Austral-Asia Cup.
2. Sanath Jayasuriya, Kusal Perera, Martin Guptill, and Liam Livingstone – 17 balls
Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya went berserk against the Men in Green Pakistan in an ODI match. Jayasuriya reached the 50-run mark in just 17 balls. While Jayasuriya had scored his half-century, his opening partner Romesh Kaluwitharana was yet to even open his account. Another Sri Lankan to score a fifty in just 17 deliveries is Kusal Perera. The left-handed batter achieved this feat against Pakistan in 2015.Apart from Jayasuriya and Perera, New Zealand batter Martin Guptill has also completed a fifty in just 17 balls. The Kiwi batter stroked it against Sri Lanka in Christchurch in 2015. The right-handed batter went on to score 93 in that match. As mentioned, the latest batter to join the list is Liam Livingstone as the right-handed batter absolutely thrashed the Netherlands bowling and scored a fifty in 17 balls recently in a record win for England.
1. AB de Villiers – 16 balls
The Superman from South Africa AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest 50 in ODI cricket. The right-handed batter took just 16 balls to reach the landmark. His bashing knock came against the West Indies at Johannesburg in 2015. Not only he stroked the fastest fifty, but De Villiers also recorded the quickest hundred in ODI cricket, but The Proteas also went on to win that match comfortably and De Villiers was the adjudged player of the match for his excellent stroke-making.
