Top 10 Cricketers With Fastest Fifties in ODI

White ball cricket has evolved a lot in recent years. There have been a lot of shifts and changes in regulations that have made the game easier for the batters. Batters have become more and more aggressive as the game keeps evolving. The pitches also support the batters nowadays. The point of reverse swing has vanished since the inception of two balls in ODI cricket. 

As the ball remains hard throughout the 50 overs, it perishes lots of runs. On a balanced wicket, 300+ scores are also not safe now as they can be chased down easily. Despite the changes achieving certain milestones has not been easy for the batters. Especially scoring fifties under 20-25 deliveries. It takes risk to score the early runs while batting aggressively in the 50-over format. 

Here in this article, we take a look at the top 10 cricketers with the fastest 50s in ODI International.

10. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

The former Pakistan all-rounder has been a matchwinner for the side. During his time he was one of the most dangerous batters in the Pakistan lineup. His skill of playing shots from the first ball made him different from others. He has also contributed with the ball in the limited overs cricket for the Men in Green. He remained a solid striker of the ball throughout his career.

This was witnessed by the Bangladesh team and fans in the 2014 Asia Cup match. Afridi played a fiery knock of 59 runs off 25 balls and reached his half-centuries in just 18 deliveries at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, in Mirupur.

9. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Glenn Maxwell has been the best shorter-format cricketer for Australia. The explosive middle-order batter has been known for his aggressive strokes and hard-hitting. He has been a nightmare for the bowlers, especially the spinners. He entertains the fans with his unconventional stroke play and has always lit up the spectators with some amazing shots.

One such entertaining innings of Maxwell was witnessed by the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru. In the game against India, he got a fifty in double quick time, in just 18 balls. His fantastic knock ended with a 22-ball 62. Eventually, Australia lost the match in the series decider.

Also Read: Top 10 Batsmen with Fastest 5000 ODI Runs

8. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi proved to be a nightmare for the bowlers. Despite starting his career as an opener he was later shifted down to the middle order, where he was more comfortable and his small cameos and explosive batting prowess helped Pakistan to win games. The all-rounder has always taken the upper hand when he is in full flow.

Afridi has numerous batting records to his name. One of such is the fastest fifties in ODI cricket. He scored yet another fifty in 18 deliveries. He smashed 6 sixes and 4 fours, to score an 18-ball 55 runs against the Netherlands.

7. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Once again Shahid Afridi is on the list for the fastest fifties in ODI cricket. This is the third time he has been on the list and is the most by any batter in the top 10 fastest 50s in ODI. Afridi was the first batter to score the fastest hundred in ODI cricket. He held the record for many years but it was then broken in 2014 by Corey Anderson for the first time.

This time the fastest fifty was scored against the mighty Sri Lanka. In the very same innings, he also smashed the then-fastest hundred in ODI cricket. He scored his fifty again in 18 balls. He hit 6 fours and 11 sixes to score a 40-ball 102. This was scored in 1996 in Nairobi.

6. Simon O’Donnell

The multi-talented Australian cricketer started his career as an Australian Rules footballer. Later on, he shifted his full focus to cricket. He was a valuable all-rounder in the Australian one-day team. He was a member of the surprising World Cup-winning side in 1987. He mostly batted in the lower-middle order for the side and was known for his aggressive batting technique.

Back in 1990, he smashed the fastest 50 in ODI cricket. This was the first time that any batter scored a half-century under 20 deliveries. He played an explosive knock of 74 runs off 29 balls against Sri Lanka. He got his fifty in just 18 balls.

5. Liam Livingstone (England)

Liam Livingstone is one of the finest limited-over batters for England. The fiery middle-order batter has been a key member of England’s white-ball side. He has lots of raw power and the ability to demolish strong bowling attacks. He is also an outstanding fielder and a decent spinner who could turn the ball both ways. This is the reason he makes the list for fastest fifties in ODI.

Livingstone’s power was involved in a brilliant partnership with Jos Buttler, in the game against the Netherlands. He remained unbeaten with the score of 66 runs off 22 balls as England set the highest-ever ODI innings total against the Dutch. They scored 498 runs in their 50 overs.

4. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Martin Guptill is one of the finest openers for New Zealand in the white ball format. The former Kiwi opener has the highest individual score in World Cup history. Guptill scored an incredible unbeaten 237 against West Indies in 2015. This showcases his prowess in the white ball format. He was a key member of the side for the 2015 and 2019 World Cup.

Guptill also had the chance to score the fastest hundred in the ODI format, but there were not enough runs for the team to chase. He has the record for scoring the 4th fastest fifty in ODI. He scored in just 17 balls and played a knock of 93* in just 30 balls.

3. Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka)

Kusal Perera is the backbone of Sri Lanka across all formats of the game. He has been their star batter in recent times. The Southpaw continued to play impactful innings on the side. His one-man innings against South Africa in the test helped the side to win the test and later the series against the Proteas. In T20Is he has also been successful.

The left-handed batter equalled his idol Sanath Jayasuriya’s record of getting to a fifty in 17 balls. He was the second Sri Lankan to achieve the milestone. He played a knock of 68 runs against Pakistan.

Also Read: Top 10 Cricketers with Most Sixes in ODI

2. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Sanath Jayasuriya changed the dynamics of opening in One-Day Cricket alongside his opening partner Romesh Kaluwitharana. He along with his partner took the strategy to take advantage of the early fielding restrictions by smashing the opening bowlers. He remained one of the fiercest openers of his era. The current head coach has numerous batting records under his belt.

Among them, one is the fastest fifties in ODI. He made it in 17 balls against Pakistan back in the 1996 Singer Cup final. Jayasuriya made 76 runs in just 28 balls. He kept the record for nearly two decades before being broken by any batter.

1. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Cricket’s ‘MR.360’ has been known for its wide and unorthodox range of shots. This is the reason he was given the name. He dominated the limited-over cricket and was a nightmare for all bowlers. The Proteas scored 9577 runs at an average of 53.51 and also had an average of more than fifty in the test matches as well. He has never won a single trophy in his career.

AB de Villiers has been listed in most of the batting records. He has the record for scoring the fastest hundred in ODI and in the very same match, he scored the fastest fifty in ODI history. He scored the half-century in just 16 balls. He scored 149 runs against the West Indies.

List of Cricketers With Fastest Fifties in ODI

Player Name	Against	Deliveries to score 50	Year
AB de Villiers	West Indies	16	2015
Sanath Jayasuriya	Pakistan	17	1996
Kusal Perera	Pakistan	17	2015
Martin Guptill	Sri Lanka	17	2015
Liam Livingstone	Netherlands	17	2022
Simon O’Donnell	Sri Lanka	18	1990
Shahid Afridi	Sri Lanka	18	1996
Shahid Afridi	Netherlands	18	2002
Glenn Maxwell	India	18	2013
Shahid Afridi	Bangladesh	18	2014