Matthew Forde equals AB de Villiers' record for fastest ODI fifty in stunning blitz

Young cricketer Matthew Forde registered his name in the record books of ODI cricket after equalling AB de Villiers' record for the joint-fastest fifty in the second game of the three-match series between Ireland and West Indies at the Castle Avenue in Dublin on Friday, May 23. Coming in at No. 8, Forde stroked his way to a 16-ball fifty to guide his side to 352/8 at the end of 50 overs.

Coming in to bat in the 44th over of the innings, the 23-year-old's blistering knock comprised two fours and eight maximums. The whirlwind of a knock concluded on the penultimate ball of the 47th over of the visitors' innings. He was the seventh wicket to fall for West Indies.

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Matthew Forde blazes into the record books 🤯 With a 16-ball fifty, he joins the company of a certain AB de Villiers for the joint-fastest ODI fifty #IREvWI

08:08 PM · May 23, 2025

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The previous fastest fifty by a West Indian in the 50-over format was by Chris Gayle in 2019. Now, the right-arm medium pacer holds the record of the fastest from his nation to get to an ODI century. Notably, Forde was the second leading run-getter in both the ODIs of the series for his nation. He had scored 38 off 48 balls in the first game, which the visitors lost by a 124-run margin.

Speaking of the second game, rain didn't allow Ireland's chase to begin. The second ODI was eventually washed out. Ireland still have a 1-0 lead to protect going into the third and final game of the series. The Men in Maroon put up a much better showing with the bat than they did in the series opener. Keacy Carty top-scored for the Caribbeans with his second ODI ton.

Notably, de Villiers record has been standing tall for over a decade, and no one has been able to surpass the same. He achieved the feat during his mind-boggling knock of 149 against the Windies, which came off just 44 deliveries. The innings came at Johannesburg in the 2nd ODI of that series on January 18, 2015. This astonishing knock of the former South African cricketer stands as one of the most entertaining knocks ever in One-Dayers.