Top 5 fastest fifties by South African batsmen in T20I cricket

Overall, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee holds the record for the fastest half-century in T20I cricket.

Over the past few years, batting records have been getting broken in T20I cricket at a breakneck speed, courtesy of the pitches getting flatter and the boundary dimensions getting smaller.

A half-century off 25 balls is now no more a shocking event in T20I cricket. The batsmen are powerful than ever, and the practice of range-hitting has become a norm in every major cricket team in the world.

In 2023 in the Asian Games in China, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee broke Yuvraj Singh’s 12-ball half-century record with a nine-ball fifty against Mongolia.

The South African batsmen are not behind either as four times a Proteas batsman has clattered a fifty in less than 20 balls.

In this article, we will look at the five quickest fifties by South African batsmen in T20I cricket.

Top five fastest fifties by South African batsmen in T20I cricket:

5. AB de Villiers (Johannesburg) / Quinton de Kock (Mumbai) – 21 balls vs ENG, 2016

In February 2016 in Johannesburg, AB de Villiers broke his own record to create the new record of the then fastest T20I fifty by a South African with a 21-ball half-century against England. He made a chase of 172 comfortable by smashing 71 (29) while opening the innings.

Next month, Quinton de Kock equalled de Villiers’ record, also against England, during their T20 World Cup group stage match in Mumbai at the Wankhede stadium. De Kock’s 21-ball half-century was key in South Africa posting 229. However, this time England won as they chased down the target through Joe Root’s 83 (44).

4. Tristan Stubbs – 19 balls vs ENG, Bristol, 2022

Young batsman Tristan Stubbs gave the first glimpse of his talent at international level by hammering 72 runs off 28 balls against England in a T20I in Bristol in July 2022.

Chasing a target of 235 runs, South Africa never got going as they kept losing wickets regularly. While other batsmen around him faltered, Stubbs blasted two fours and eight sixes in his knock. He reached his half-century in 19 balls. However, his effort went in vain as South Africa lost the game by 41 runs.

3. Quinton de Kock – 17 balls vs ENG, Durban, 2020

In February 2020, opener Quinton de Kock produced a whirlwind knock of 65 runs off 22 balls against England in Durban. While chasing 205, de Kock got South Africa off to a great start with a 17-ball fifty and hammered eight sixes in his innings.

The match went down the wire, but the hosts lost by only three runs and de Kock’s blistering knock ended up in a losing innings. This was the fastest fifty by a South African batsman in T20I cricket at that point.

2. Marco Jansen – 16 balls vs IND, Centurion, 2024

Marco Jansen recently stormed into this list with his 16-ball half-century against India in Centurion, which is the second-fastest half-century by a Proteas batsman in T20I cricket.

Chasing a tall target of 220, Jansen came in to bat at the score of 142/5 in the 16th over, with South Africa heading towards a loss. Jansen, though, kept his side’s hopes alive as he smoked four fours and five sixes in his knock of 54 runs off 17 balls. The Proteas still lost by 11 runs.

1. Quinton de Kock – 15 balls vs WI, Centurion, 2023

Quinton de Kock holds the record for the fastest fifty by a South African batsman in T20I cricket for his 15-ball half-century against West Indies that he scored in Centurion in March 2023.

Batting first, Johnson Charles’ 118 powered West Indies to 258. However, South Africa produced the highest successful chase in T20I cricket on the back of de Kock’s knock of 100 runs off 44 balls, which included nine fours and eight sixes.

(All stats updated till 14th November, 2024)

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