Cricket
Top 5 Fastest Fifty In World Cup History
The ODI World Cup 2019 finally begins on May 30 with the encounter between the host England and South Africa. World Cup is a tournament which comes in every 4 years and therefore, everyone wants to do something special whenever they get an opportunity.## In previous World Cups, there have been many brilliant performances in both the batting and bowling department. As a batsman, it is always nice to score runs and when they come quickly it becomes even more special. Scoring fastest fifty is one such thing that gives a batsman immense pleasure as well as confidence.## Here are the top 5 fastest 50s in World cup cricket:## 1. Brendon McCullum (NZ, 18 balls) - Former New Zealand's captain and one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world holds the record of the fastest fifty in World Cup history. The knock came against England in the World Cup 2015 when he battered his own record with a sizzling 18-ball fifty in the group stage. England set a target of 124 which New Zeland chased down in just 12.2 overs with 8 wickets in hand. Brendon McCullum was the chief architect in that assault as scored 77 off just 25 balls including 8 fours and 7 sixes.## 2. Angelo Mathews (SL, 20 balls) - Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews hit the second fastest fifty in World Cup when he took on Scotland at Hobart in 2015. Mathews slammed a 20-ball fifty as Sri Lanka set a target of 364 for the helpless Scotland who couldn't offer any challenge as lost the match by a massive margin of 148 runs. Mathews scored 51 off 21 balls including one four and 6 sixes.## 3. Brendon McCullum (NZ, 20 balls) - Brendon McCullum batted down the order to provide the much-needed finishing touch to New Zeland and he did exactly same against Canada in Gros Islet in 2007. New Zeland, though scored massive and put a total of 363 with the help of century from Lou Vincent and a quick fire 52 off 21 balls from McCullum. McCullum's fifty came in just 20 balls with the help of 5 sixes and a four. New Zeland won the match comprehensively by 114-runs.## 4. Mark Boucher (SA, 21 balls) - One of the finest wicketkeeper-batsman of all-time, Mark Boucher hit a 21-ball fifty against the Netherlands in the same match in which Herschelle Gibbs hit 6 sixes in an over and became the first batsman to do in ODIs. Though Gibbs was adjudged man of the match Boucher played a blinder knock of 75 off 31 balls including 9 fours and 4 sixes. South Africa won that match by 221 runs.## 5. Brendon McCullum (NZ, 22 balls) - In the 1st semi-final, South Africa set a target of 298 (DLS) in 43 overs for New Zeland to reach the final for the first time. It was a tricky target and also the pressure of the big match was there but such was McCullum's carnage who came out to bat with all guns and smashed the third fastest fifty of the tournament in just 22 balls. He smashed 25 runs off Dale Steyn's over. However, McCullum got out in the 7th over after scoring 59 off 26 balls Grant Elliott (84*) and Corey Anderson (58) made sure McCullum's effort doesn't go in vain. New Zeland won the match by 4-wickets with just one ball remaining and booked their ticket for the final for the first time.## Note - Mark Boucher also scored 22-ball fifty against West Indies in the World Cup 2007.## Follow for more...
