In ODI history, the fifties are a milestone for every player. They try their best to score at least half a century; when it is reached, they will aim for the century. But there are time constraints and ball constraints. Players are not allowed to waste time, because that will affect their team’s success. With all this pressure, it is challenging to score the fastest fifties in ODI. Yet, many players did that and made an exhilarating history.
Let’s dig deeper. In this blog, we will cover the fastest fifties in ODI and players who achieved them. For more information and informative blog posts, register on the pb77 site.
Top 10 Fastest Fifties in ODI Cricket
This is the list of fastest fifties in ODI matches and the number of balls they used and also the venue and year that happened.
| Rank | Batsman | Balls | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| 1 | AB de Villiers | 16 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 2015 |
| 2 | Corey Anderson | 18 | West Indies | Queenstown | 2014 |
| 3 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 17 | Pakistan | Singapore | 1996 |
| 4 | Shahid Afridi | 18 | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 1996 |
| 5 | Jos Buttler | 18 | Pakistan | Dubai | 2015 |
| 6 | Brendon McCullum | 18 | Australia | Christchurch | 2010 |
| 7 | Kapil Dev | 17 | Pakistan | Tunbridge Wells | 1983 |
| 8 | Adam Gilchrist | 17 | Sri Lanka | Colombo | 2003 |
| 9 | Shahid Afridi | 18 | India | Dhaka | 2000 |
| 10 | Martin Guptill | 18 | Australia | Hamilton | 2010 |
Fastest Fifties in ODI Record Holder
The most recent record holders of the fastest fifties in ODI are AB de Villiers and Matthew Forde. AB de Villiers scored his first fastest fifties in ODI in 2015 and Matthew happened to score the second-fastest fifties in ODI in 2025. That’s crazy; it took 10 years to come near to that record. But no one has beaten it. If someone wants to top the table, they need to hit the half century with only 15 balls.
This will be challenging but not impossible. This will definitely put pressure on the upcoming players. There is a fear of losing a wicket when you continuously aim for boundaries. So, the players need to be cautious and strategic.
Other Notable Fastest 50s in ODIs
Sanath Jayasuriya – 17 balls vs Pakistan (1996)
Before AB de Villiers, Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya had the record with 50 in 17 balls. His stunning innings against Pakistan in the Singer Cup in Singapore changed ODI opening.
Kusal Perera – 17 balls vs Pakistan (2015)
With a 17-ball fifty, Kusal Perera tied Jayasuriya’s record. His courageous chase against Pakistan reminded supporters of Jayasuriya’s ferocity.
Liam Livingstone – 17 balls vs Netherlands (2022)
England middle-order batsman matched 17-ball mark in Amstelveen. That match saw England score a world-record 498/4. Livingstone’s six-hitting innings highlighted how power hitting has changed.
Martin Guptill – 17 balls vs Sri Lanka (2015)
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill’s 17-ball fifty grabbed headlines the same year as AB’s record. His top-order aggression set the tone for New Zealand’s innings.
How to Score the Fastest Fifties in ODI?
To score the fastest fifties in ODI, players need to be physically fit and skilled.
Of course all the players are skilled, but strategy plays a crucial role in scoring the fastest fifties in ODI.
The players need to understand the ability of the bowlers, as well as the fielding position, to hit boundaries.
Players cannot keep dot balls or waste any of the balls, because each ball is important to score the half century with less than 20 balls.
Players should also consider their batting lineup and also the position of their team in the current match.
Conclusion
Fastest fifties scored by many players in the past decade. But AB de Villiers’s fastest fifty stands tall as an unbeatable record. This is a chance for the upcoming players to beat this record. For more of these kinds of informative blogs, register on pb77 app.
