Stats: Fastest half-centuries in T20 World Cup history

Age is definitely just a number for Shoaib Malik! The veteran Pakistan all-rounder unleashed a gusto against Scotland and slammed the joint-fastest fifty of the T20 World Cup 2021, reaching the milestone off just 18 balls. It was Malik Mayhem at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium as all Scotland bowlers were taken to cleaners. Riding on his prowess, Pakistan posted a daunting 189/4 in their allotted 20 overs.

Coming out to bat in the 15th over, Malik didn’t take long in assessing the local conditions. Notably, Pakistan’s top-order batters did show application on the challenging track. However, the scoring rate wasn’t on the higher side. However, Malik’s arrival in the middle changed the course of the game entirely. The veteran batter scored runs all over the park and scored an unbeaten 54 off mere 18 deliveries.

Shoaib Malik – The old warhorse

This was also the fastest T20I half-century by a Pakistan batter. As far as T20 World Cups are concerned, Malik slammed the joint-third fastest half-century of the tournament history. It has to be noted that the 40-year-old wasn’t included in Pakistan’s initial squad for the global tournament. He later came as a replacement for the injured Shoaib Maqsood.

With the veteran all-rounder being in the twilight of his career and not featuring in the national team lately, many believed his addition would backfire the Men in Green. However, nothing as such happened as Malik played a couple of fine hands in the competition. His best, however, was unleashed against the Scottish side.

Fastest Half-Centuries in T20 World Cup:-

As mentioned above, Malik slammed the joint-third fastest half-century in the history of T20 World Cups. He shares the record with Glenn Maxwell and KL Rahul. Notably, Rahul also got the landmark against Scotland earlier in the ongoing competition.

While Netherlands’ Stephan Myburgh is second on the list, Yuvraj Singh tops the list – scoring a 12-ball fifty against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. It was the very same game where the dasher famously smashed six maximums in an over.