The One-Day International (ODI) format of the ICC World Cup offers high-octane cricketing action with each match consisting of 50-over innings. While this format demands strategic game play and gradual accumulation of runs, some players defy these norms with their sheer aggressive batting style. These audacious players sometimes take as little as 20 to 25 balls to smash a fifty, a feat more familiar to the fast-paced T20 cricket.
Renowned players like Brendon McCullum, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers have become synonymous with such high-strike-rate innings. This article presents a curated list of players who have etched their names in cricketing history with the fastest fifties in the World Cup.
| S. No | Player | Score | Opposition | Balls | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 77 | England | 18 | 20 Feb 2015 |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 52 | Canada | 20 | 22 Mar 2007 |
| 3 | Angelo Mathews (SL) | 51 | Scotland | 20 | 11 Mar 2015 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell (Aus) | 88 | Afghanistan | 21 | 04 Mar 2015 |
| 5 | Mark Boucher (SA) | 75 | Netherlands | 21 | 16 Mar 2007 |
| 6 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 50 | Australia | 21 | 28 Feb 2015 |
| 7 | Mark Boucher (SA) | 52 | West Indies | 22 | 10 Apr 2007 |
| 8 | Dinesh Chandimal (SL) | 52 | Australia | 22 | 08 Mar 2015 |
| 9 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 59 | South Africa | 22 | 24 Mar 2015 |
| 10 | Brian Lara (WI) | 73 | Canada | 23 | 23 Feb 2003 |
| 11 | Jim Davison (Can) | 52 | New Zealand | 23 | 22 Mar 2007 |
| 12 | Kieron Pollard (WI) | 73 | Canada | 23 | 28 Feb 2011 |
| 13 | Kevin O’Brien (Ire) | 50 | UAE | 23 | 25 Feb 2015 |
| 14 | Wevell Hinds (WI) | 64 | Canada | 24 | 23 Feb 2003 |
| 15 | Jim Davison (Can) | 75 | New Zealand | 25 | 03 Mar 2003 |
New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum, widely acknowledged as one of cricket’s most explosive players, owns the record for the fastest 50s in the World Cup. McCullum showcased his impressive strike rate with a 50 in just 18 balls against England in 2015 and a 20-ball fifty in 2007 against Canada.
Sri Lankan star Angelo Mathews holds the record for the second fastest fifty in World Cup history, achieved in a 2015 league match against Scotland with a quick-fire 20-ball fifty.
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell, one of the most intimidating batsmen in the sport, ranks third in this list. Maxwell scored a speedy 50 in just 21 balls against Afghanistan in the 2015 World Cup, ending his innings with a remarkable 88 runs.
As we anticipate the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, cricket enthusiasts around the world are eager to see if any player can break these records. The World Cup, the pinnacle of cricketing glory, is where history is made, and fans eagerly await the breathtaking performances this prestigious tournament promises.
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