There are some truly amazing centuries and half-centuries in those day-long matches even though the technical aspects of the game are intact. In this article, we will examine the fastest fifty in one-day international cricket.
Internationals in the Fastest Fifty in One Day – Updates for 2023
Sanath Jayasuriya previously held the World Record for fastest fifty in one-day internationals and was credited with introducing power-hitting in the 15th over.
Despite only having to bat 17 balls, Jayasuriya has scored his fastest fifty in one-day internationals. He did so against Pakistan in Singapore. It has been confirmed that AB de Villiers has scored the fastest fifty (16 balls) and the fastest 100 (31 balls).
The information below is up-to-date according to the statistics from 2023, and the attached table is also up-to-date according to the same data. If you have alternative statistics that you would like to share with us, feel free to do so in the comments section below. Having said that, let us now begin to count down the fastest ODI half-centuries in history.
10. Shahid Afridi
The previous player to score a half-century in 18 balls was Shahid Afridi, the right-handed batting all-rounder of Pakistan who achieved this feat in a match that was played on 4th March 2014 at Mirpur between Pakistan and Bangladesh. At the conclusion of this match, he scored 59 points, hitting seven sixes and two fours.
The strike rate of 117.00 in one-day internationals reflects the unique style of batting that Afridi employs. It is noteworthy that he is one of the batsmen who has scored the highest number of sixes in ODI cricket.
9. Glenn Maxwell
The Australian Glenn Maxwell takes the eighth position on the list of players with the fastest 50 in an ODI, having reached the milestone after facing 18 balls. On 2nd November 2013, this occurred during a game against India in Bangalore. Maxwell did not manage to amass more than 60 runs during this match, despite it being an exciting one.
As a result of his 7 sixes and 3 fours, he reached a half-century in a quick period of time. Maxwell has achieved an impressive strike rate of 123.93 over the course of his career in One Day International cricket.
8. Shahid Afridi
Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has scored another half-century scored in 18 balls. Once again, it was against the Netherlands in a match played in Colombo on 21st September 2017.
As a result of his rapid half-century, Afridi scored a total of just 55 runs, including six sixes and four boundaries. Afridi appears on the list of the fastest fifty batsmen in One Day Internationals more than once, which is not surprising.
7. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, one of the greatest all-rounders who has ever played, has once again hit a half-century in 18 balls, continuing his streak of fast fifty in One Day Internationals.
During an ODI match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, played in Nairobi on 4th October 1996, the former Pakistani player scored his first half-century in 18 balls. There were 11 sixes and six fours in Afridi’s innings during that match. He scored 102 runs in total. The match was quite spectacular once again!
6. Simon O’Donnell
Simon O’Donnell, a former Australian right-handed batsman who represented his country as a right-handed batsman, is in 5th place on the list of players with the fastest fifty in One Day International cricket. He scored a fifty for the first time in his career in 18 balls, in a match against Sri Lanka.
O’Donnell scored 74 runs in the match, played in Sharjah on 2nd May 1990. A number of his hits were superb, such as six sixers and four boundaries. O’Donnell has an 80.96 strike rate in One Day International cricket.
5. Liam Stephen Livingstone
On a tour of Netherlands in June 2022, Liam Livingstone smashed the fastest ever fifty from England in just 17 balls. The strike rate was exactly 300 as he finishes an unbeaten knock of 66 off just 22 deliveries with the help of 6 fours & 6 sixes.
In the same match Jos Buttler scored 162 not out of just 70 balls and England managed to score the highest ever score by a team in ODIs i.e. 498/4 in respective 50 overs. There were 2 other batsmen who score hundreds including Opening batsman Phil Salt 122 (93) & Dawid Malan 125 (109) who came at one-down position.
4. Martin Guptill
On 28 December 2015, Martin Guptill of New Zealand becomes the next player to score 50 in 17 balls. As an opening batsman, this right-handed batsman had one of the fastest fifty in One Day International cricket as well as of his career in a game against Sri Lanka at Christchurch, which ultimately ranked as one of the fastest fifty in One Day International cricket.
While he was close to reaching a century in the match, he scored only 93 runs. There were eight sixes and nine fours. In ODIs, he has a striking rate of 87.58. Notable highlights of his career include his double-century during the 2015 World Cup.
3. Kusal Perera
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera stands 5 ft 6 inches tall and boasts one of the fastest fifty-sevens in the history of ODI cricket. In a match against Pakistan, played at Pallekele on 15th July 2015, he needed only 17 balls to reach fifty.
It was Perera’s first time scoring 50 in 17 balls. He was inspired by Jayasuriya, who went on to score 63 in the match. There were two sixes and thirteen fours in his total. As a result of his outstanding performances in One Day International cricket, he has an impressive strike rate of 133.55.
2. Sanath Jayasuriya
On this list, we have an outstanding left-handed batting all-rounder who is former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, who set a record for the second-fastest half-century in One Day International cricket, having scored it in only 17 balls, during a match against Pakistan on 7th April 1996. As a result of his 76 runs, he won the match in Singapore.
Five sixes and eight boundaries were included in his score. Jayasuriya scores an average of 91.20 runs per innings in One Day International cricket. His two-decade career is amongst the most distinguished in cricket history and places him among those who have scored the most ODI centuries.
1. AB de Villiers
In One Day Internationals, AB de Villiers of South Africa tops the list of fastest fiftys. The wicketkeeper and right-handed batsman achieved the fastest fifty in an ODI by hitting it within 16 balls, setting a record. Against the West Indies on 18th January 2015, the record-breaking performance occurred.
Villiers scored a total of 149 runs during this game, which was played in Johannesburg. In addition to 16 sixes and nine fours, his dazzling performance included 11 fours. One Day International cricket records a strike rate of 101.07 for him. As a result, he is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in history.
Conclusion
Some of these players have created some of the fastest and most dramatic fifty-over innings in one-day international cricket history. Their contributions have not only helped bring their teams closer to reaching their goals faster, but they have also left an impression on the audience that they will not soon forget.
Fastest Fifty in One Day International [Updated Table for 2023]
| Rank | Player | Match | Date | Total runs | Balls taken to score 50 | 6s | 4s |
| 1 | AB de Villiers | South Africa v West Indies | 18/01/2015 | 149 | 16 | 16 | 9 |
| 2 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka v Pakistan | 07/04/1996 | 76 | 17 | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | Kusal Perera | Sri Lanka v Pakistan | 15/07/2015 | 68 | 17 | 2 | 13 |
| 4 | Martin Guptill | New Zealand v Sri Lanka | 28/12/2015 | 93 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 5 | LS Livingstone | England v Netherlands | 17/06/2022 | 66* | 17 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Simon O’Donnell | Australia v Sri Lanka | 02/05/1990 | 74 | 18 | 6 | 4 |
| 7 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan v Sri Lanka | 04/10/1996 | 102 | 18 | 11 | 6 |
| 8 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan v the Netherlands | 21/09/2002 | 55 | 18 | 6 | 4 |
| 9 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia v India | 02/11/2013 | 60 | 18 | 7 | 3 |
| 10 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan v Bangladesh | 04/03/2014 | 59 | 18 | 7 | 2 |
Facts about the fastest ODI fifty
- Top of the list is the Proteas’ AB de Villiers, who scored a half-ton using only 16 balls. In 2015, he accomplished the feat against West Indies.
- The second name on the list belongs to none other than the Sri Lanka legend Jayasuriya. This was achieved against Pakistan in 1996 when he scored fifty off just 16 deliveries.
- Sri Lankan opener, Perera, occupies third place on the list, scoring a half-century in just 17 deliveries.
- There are two other batsmen on the list who made fifty in just 17 deliveries. This feat has been accomplished by none other than New Zealand’s star batsman Martin Guptill against Sri Lanka.
- With the historic 18-ball fifty he scored against Sri Lanka in 1996, Shahid Afridi aka Boom Boom is still in the top six on this list.
- Afridi has appeared in the list of fastest ODI 50s a total of ten times, more than any other player. He has scored fifty in 18 ball three times and fifty in 19 ball one time. Moreover, he scored twice during the 20-ball period, three times during the 21-ball period, and one more time during the 22-ball period.
This list of Fastest Fifty in One Day Internationals is constantly being updated. If someone scores 50 in less than 23 balls, we will be sure to update this information.
The most recent addition is Martin Guptill. This New Zealander scored his 50 in 17 balls, the fourth fastest score in One Day International Cricket and the fastest by any New Zealand batsman.
