Twenty-three-year-old West Indies cricketer Matthew Forde equalled the record for the fastest fifty in one-day internationals, reaching the milestone in just 16 deliveries during the second match of a three-game ODI series against Ireland in Dublin. 

Forde, primarily a fast bowler, matched the record set by AB de Villiers in 2015.

Forde launched a brutal assault on the Irish bowling attack, smashing eight sixes and two fours in a whirlwind innings of 58 off 19 balls. A staggering 56 of his runs came from boundaries, as the powerful hitter produced a ruthless display in the Irish capital.

He came in to bat in the 43rd over and immediately took the attack to Ireland’s Barry McCarthy, dispatching a six off only his second ball. Forde then turned his attention to Josh Little, punishing the former Gujarat Titans pacer with four consecutive sixes in a single over.

Not holding back, Forde continued the onslaught in the 46th over, smashing Thomas Mayes for a six and two boundaries.

With 43 runs from just 13 balls at the end of the 46th over, Forde had a chance to surpass AB de Villiers’s record for the fastest ODI fifty. He missed a ramp shot off the first ball of the 47th over, but connected with the next two deliveries, sending both into the stands to bring up his half-century in 16 balls.

His entertaining cameo came to an end in the same over, but not before propelling the West Indies to a formidable total of 352 for 8 in their 50 overs.

Earlier in the innings, Keacy Carty laid a solid foundation with a patient 102 off 109 deliveries, while captain Shai Hope contributed 49 from 57 balls.

The West Indies were in need of a strong batting performance after suffering a heavy defeat in the series opener, losing by 124 runs to Ireland on 21 May. In that match, they were bowled out for 179 in response to Ireland’s 310.

Source: India Today
--Agencies