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Top 5 Fastest Fifty In World Cup History Cricket
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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...

Top 10 Fastest Century In ODIs Cricket
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Top 10 Fastest Century In ODIs

South Africa's former captain AB de Villiers was one of the most attacking batsmen game has ever had. He played some of the memorable ODI knocks over the years. He holds the record of the fastest century in this format of the game when he magnified 149 off 44 balls against West Indies.## Apart from Ab de Villiers, there are some players who are equally lethal as de Villiers. Some of them has retired from international cricket but they will always be remembered as greats of the game. Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was the one who holds the record of fastest century for 18 long years untill Anderson broke that.## Here is the list of fastest centuries in the one-day format. ## 1. AB de Villiers (31 balls) - AB de Villiers holds the record of the fastest century in one-day cricket. Former South Africa's captain became the fastest centurion after breaking New Zealand's Corey Anderson's record when he hammered 149 off just 44 balls including 9 fours and 16 sixes against West Indies at Johannesburg in 2015. Recently retired and one of the greatest players, AB de Villiers considered the best batsman of modern era.## 2. Corey Anderson (36 balls) - New Zealand's Corey Anderson is one of the most attacking batsmen at present. He broke Shahid Afridi's long 18 years old record when he hammered 131 off 47 balls against West Indies in Queenstown in 2014. He hit 6 fours and 14 sixes in his record-breaking innings.## 3. Shahid Afridi (37 balls) - Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was one of the players who changed the definition of playing cricket with his hard hitting ability. In 1996, 16-year old Shahid Afridi dismantled Sri Lanka in Nairobi in four teams tournament. He made 102 off 40 balls including 6 fours and 11 sixes. Shahid Afridi has retired from international cricket last year.## 4. Mark Boucher (44 balls) - South Africa's wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher is one of the most successful wicketkeepers in all three formats. His inning of 147* off 68 balls against Zimbabwe in 2006. Mark Boucher had to retire from professional cricket after a tragic incident behind the stump when stump bells damaged his eye.## 5. Brian Lara/Shahid Afridi (45 balls) - Former West Indies' captain and arguably one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Brian Lara found himself among the top ten fastest centurions. He played a 117-runs knock off 62 balls including 18 fours and 4 sixes against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 1999 while Shahid Afridi is the only batsman till date who featured twice in top ten lists. He scored 102 off 46 balls against India in Kanpur in 2005.## 6. Jesse Ryder/Jos Buttler (46 balls) - New Zealand's Jesse Ryder and England's wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler are among the fastest centurion in ODIs. Ryder played a 104 runs knock off 51 balls against West Indies while Buttler 116* off 62 balls against Pakistan in Dubai.## 7. Sanath Jayasuriya (48 balls) - Sri Lanka's former captain and legend of the game, Sanath Jayasuriya played one of the fastest ODI knocks against Pakistan in Singapore in 1996 when he hammered 134 off 65 balls including 11 fours and 11 sixes.## 8. Kevin O'Brien (50 balls) - Ireland's Kevin O'Brien played a knock of his life when he helped his side to chase down 328 against England in a group match of World Cup 2011. He scored 113 off 63 balls including 13 fours and 6 sixes in Bengaluru and upset strong England side.## 9. Glenn Maxwell (51 balls) - Australia's Glenn Maxwell is known for his hard hitting ability. He featured among the fastest centurion when he smashed 102 off 53 balls including 10 fours and 4 sixes against Sri Lanka in Sydney in 2015.## 10. Virat Kohli (52 balls) - Indian captain and arguably the best batsman of the modern era, Virat Kohli is the last batsman who featured in top ten lists. He is the fastest Indian to score a century in an ODI. He played one of the most memorable ODI knocks against Australia in Jaipur when he helped India to chase down 360. He remained unbeaten on 100* off 52 balls along with Rohit Sharma's 141* off 123 balls.## *Stats last updated till 28th November, 2018.## Thanks for the reading.