Kusal Perera Smashes Fastest 50 in ODI ICC Men’s World Cup 2023

Sri Lanka opener Kusal Perera hits the fastest half-century of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 during the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The left-hander reached his 50 runs in just 22 balls and also scored the joint-second fastest half-century by Sri Lanka in World Cup history. The Sri Lanka team was showing a very ordinary batting display against New Zealand. Opener Kusal Perera was the only batter to score a few runs, otherwise, they would be in a bad position. Kusal played a record-breaking 51-run knock against New Zealand.

After scoring 50, Kusal’s temperament came into question as Sri Lanka were losing wickets at one end, but he didn’t stop attacking. Meanwhile, Perera lost his wicket to Lockie Ferguson for a rash shot. Mitchell Santner took an easy catch to dismiss Perara for 51 runs in 22 balls.

Before Perara’s knock on Thursday, Australia’s pacer Travis Head and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis held the record for the fastest 50s in the ongoing World Cup 2023 tournament. They scored their half-centuries off 25 balls against New Zealand and South Africa respectively.

Fastest fifties in ODI World Cup 2023

• 22 balls – Kusal Perera (SL) vs New Zealand, Bengaluru
• 25 balls -Travis Head (AUS) vs New Zealand, Dharamsala
• 25 balls – Kusal Mendis (SL) vs South Africa, Delhi

Fastest fifties in all ODI World Cups

• 18 balls – Brendon McCullum (NZ) vs England, Wellington (2015)
• 20 balls – Brendon McCullum (NZ) vs Canada, Gros Islet (2007)
• 20 balls – Angelo Mathews (SL) vs Scotland, Hobart (2015)

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