11 Fastest fifties in domestic T20s

Since its inception, T20 cricket has been very successful resulting in its spread around the world. Attacking style of play, close finishes, and innovative batting have all fascinated cricket fans to no end. T20 leagues around the world command massive fan-following these days. The Twenty20 version is claimed to have resulted in a more athletic and explosive form of the game. Here’s a look at some breathtaking, the most exciting, the fastest fifties in domestic T20s. 11. MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) – 16 balls: (Photo Source: BCCI) In the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings’ skipper MS Dhoni blasted a 16-ball half-century to help his team post 202/4. He finished unbeaten on 63 off 19 balls hammering 1 four and 8 massive sixes. CSK eventually won this tight contest by 12 runs. 10. Ahmed Shehzad (Barisal Burners) – 16 balls: Ahmed Shehzad. (Photo Source: BPL T20) The Pakistani star’s 16-ball fifty came against Duronto Rajshahi in the semi-final of the 2012 Bangladesh Premier League. Set a target of 185, the Barisal Burners completed the huge run-chase rather comfortably in 16 overs courtesy a brilliant unbeaten 113 off 75 balls by the right-hander that included 12 fours and 6 sixes. 9. Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire) – 16: (Photo Source: Getty Images) The 2010 Friends Provident T20 in England witnessed a 16-ball fifty off the bat of Nottinghamshire’s opener Alex Hales. The right-hander made 69 off 28 balls that included 11 fours and 3 sixes. Derbyshire’s total of 192 was overhauled by the Notts in just 17 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. 8. Ross Taylor (Central Districts) – 16: Ross Taylor. (Photo Source: AFP) New Zealand Twenty20 competition witnessed a remarkable match between Otago and Central Districts in 2006. Batting first Otago posted a mammoth 219/4 however it didn’t prove enough as Central Districts overhauled the target in 19 overs. This featured Ross Taylor’s 66 off 20 including 9 fours, 5 maximums and his fifty came off 16 balls. 7. Yusuf Pathan (Kolkata Knight Riders) – 15: Yusuf Pathan KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI) In a key game of the IPL 2014, Pathan smashed 72 off 22 balls including 5 four and 7 sixes to help his team Kolkata Knight Riders qualify for the playoffs. His half-century came off just 15 balls in a run-chase against the Sunrisers Hyderabad who had posted 160/7 batting first. KKR overhauled this total in 14.2 overs. 6. Kieron Pollard (Trinidad & Tobago) – 14: Kieron Pollard. (Photo Source: Caribbean Premier League) The Caribbean T20 match in 2012 witnessed a one-sided contest between Trinidad & Tobago and the Leeward Islands. T&T posted 211/3 that featured a 14-ball fifty from the big Kieron Pollard who made an unbeaten 56 off 15 balls striking 2 fours and 7 sixes. In reply, Leeward Islands was bundled out for 44 in 12.5 overs. 5. Kieran Noema-Barnett (Central Districts) – 14: (Photo Source: AFP) The 2010 HRV Cup in New Zealand saw Otago pitted against their famous rivals Central Districts. Batting first Otago posted 175/6 however it didn’t prove enough as Central Districts gunned down the target in 17.3 overs. The hard-hitting all-rounder Kieran Noema-Barnett smashed an unbeaten 57 off 18 balls including 3 fours and 7 sixes to see his team through. 4. Gerard Brophy (Yorkshire) – 14: (Photo Source: Getty Images) The 2006 Twenty20 Cup match in England between Derbyshire and Yorkshire failed to produce a result owing to the famous English weather however it did provide some entertainment. Yorkshire’s wicketkeeper batsman Gerard Brophy’s 57 off 18 balls included 13 fours and helped his team post 210/3. Derbyshire innings lasted just 2.1 overs with the score on 34/0 before the weather intervened. 3. Imran Nazir (Sialkot Stallions) – 14: (Photo Source: AFP) The 2005 ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup in Pakistan witnessed a last ball thriller between Lahore Eagles and Sialkot Stallions. Stallions scored 210/10 in 19.5 overs batting first after opener Imran Nazir smashed 54 off 19 balls including 6 fours and 4 sixes. In reply, the Eagles needed 1 off 1 but a maximum of the last ball ensured a 3-wicket win for them. 2. Marcus Trescothick (Somerset) – 13: England cricketer Marcus Trescothick . AFP PHOTO/Greg WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images) The 2010 Friends Provident T20 match between Somerset and Hampshire produced a remarkable innings by former England star Marcus Trescothick. The skipper and Somerset legend smashed a belligerent 78 off just 27 balls including 7 fours and an equal number of sixes in a massive run-chase of 216 runs. His knock and that of his opening partner Peter Trego (72* off 44) helped them gun down Hampshire’s total in 18 overs. 1. Chris Gayle (Melbourne Renegades) – 12: Chris Gayle of the Renegades hits a six. (Photo by Robert Cianflone – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) The Gayle storm arrived at the Docklands Stadium in the 2016 BBL match between Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers. Playing for the Renegades, Gayle smashed 4 sixes in a run-chase of 171. His team needed to win the match in 16 overs to qualify for the semi-final hence, the big West Indian started with a bang and went on to register a 12-ball half-century. He was dismissed on 56 off 17 balls that featured 7 maximums and 2 fours. His team though lost the match by 27 runs. All stats updated till 18th June 2016.