5 fastest half-centuries in CLT20 history

The sixth edition of Champions League T20 begins today, with the qualifiers getting underway at Raipur.In the last 5 seasons, there have been some scintillating knocks to remember, with the best players of T20 competing against each other. Here, we take a look at the 5 fastest half-centuries struck in the tournament’s history.

#5 Ryan ten Doeschate (Otago) - 21 balls

In an impressive season last year, Otago Volts captured fans’ attention with some memorable matches in 2013 CLT20.

Against Perth Scorchers in Jaipur, opener Neil Broom struck a brilliant hundred, followed by the maverick show by Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored the fourth fastest half-century of the tournament in just 21 balls.

Doeschate scored 66 off 26 balls, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes in his innings. Otago scored a mammoth 242 runs, and won the match by 62 runs.

#4 Evin Lewis (T&T) - 21 balls

Propelled by 21-year-old Evin Lewis’s 35-ball 70, Trinidad and Tobago registered a close win over Titans in 2013 CLT20 group match.

Lewis completed his half-century off just 21 deliveries, merely 5 days after Ryan ten Doeschate’s effort in Jaipur.

He hit 7 fours and 5 sixes in his knock, pulling his team to a total of 188 in 20 overs.

Rain delay meant that Titans had to chase 160 in 17 overs after revision, but could only manage 153 in the allotted overs.

#3 Chris Gayle (RCB) - 20 balls

Chris Gayle’s pyrotechnics negated a second consecutive century by New South Wales’ David Warner in the 2011 CLT20, as he pounded 92 runs off just 41 deliveries, registering the third fastest half-century of all time in the tournament (2nd fastest at that time).

It was the second consecutive 200+ chase for RCB, who looked unstoppable after two completely unlikely chases. Having clinched their last match with a last ball six, Gayle took charge against NSW this time around, hitting 8 sixes and 8 fours in his innings.

Supported by Virat Kohli’s 89 off 49 at the other end, Bangalore reached the target of 204 with relative ease in the 19^th over.

#2 Kieron Pollard (T&T) - 18 balls

A record which stood for four years, Pollard’s 18-ball half-century was one of the most amazing match-winning knocks in T20 cricket.

When he walked in to bat in the 2009 CLT20 group match against New South Wales, Trinidad and Tobago required 80 runs off 7 overs. Such was the ferociousness of his innings that T&T reached the target with 9 balls to spare!

He struck 54 off 18 deliveries, with 5 fours and 5 sixes. It was a career changing season for Pollard who was pouched by Mumbai Indians the next season in IPL.

#1 MS Dhoni (CSK) - 16 balls

The fastest half-century in tournament’s history, off just 16 balls, came off the willow of Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, having made an impressive debut as a revamped franchise in IPL earlier in the year, were blown apart by Dhoni’s maverick batting in the death. Dhoni reserved his best for Thisara Perera, who conceded 34 runs in the 18^th over of the innings, with Dhoni clobbering 5 sixes off his medium pace.

Dhoni hit a total of 8 huge sixes and one four in his innings, remaining unbeaten on 63 runs off just 19 deliveries.

CSK eventually won the match by 12 runs.