The ODI World Cup is the biggest tournament to take place in Cricket. It is played once every four years, and top teams take part in it to become World Champions. And when all the best teams and players compete against each other, the pressure becomes immense. However, over the years, many memorable performances have been registered in the tournament.
This article will discuss the fastest half-centuries. There have been a few quickest half centuries in ODI cricket. However, Brendon McCullum and Mark Boucher have registered the quickest ones. So let’s check out the list.
Fastest Fifty in ODI World Cup
| Batter | Balls | Score | Vs | Venue | Date |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 18 | 77 | England | Wellington | 20/02/215 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 20 | 52 | Canada | St Lucia | 22/03/2007 |
| Angelo Mathews (SA) | 20 | 51 | Scotland | Hobart | 11/04/2015 |
| Mark Boucher (SA) | 21 | 75 | Netherlands | St Kitts | 16/03/2007 |
| Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | 21 | 88 | Afghanistan | Perth | 04/04/2015 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 21 | 50 | Australia | Auckland | 28/02/2016 |
| Mark Boucher (SA) | 22 | 52 | West Indies | St George’s | 10/04/2007 |
| Dinesh Chandimal (SL) | 22 | 52 | Australia | Sydney | 08/04/2015 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 22 | 59 | South Africa | Auckland | 24/04/2015 |
| Brain Lara (WI) | 23 | 73 | Canada | Centurion | 23/02/2003 |
| John Davison (CAN) | 23 | 52 | New Zealand | St Lucia | 22/03/2007 |
5. Glenn Maxwell – 21 balls vs Afghanistan in 2015
Glenn Maxwell has also registered a 21-ball fifty in the ODI World Cup. He did it in 2015 in a game against Afghanistan. Batting first, Australia posted the highest total in the World Cup. They made 417/6, with David Warner scoring 178 runs. Maxwell made 88 off 39, with six fours and seven sixes. In reply, Afghanistan made 142, and Australia registered the biggest World Cup win by 275 runs.
4. Mark Boucher – 21 balls vs Netherlands in 2007
In the same 2007 World Cup, Mark Boucher made the another quick half-century. He made a 21-ball fifty against the Netherlands in Basseterre. South Africa made 353/3 in the first inning. Jacques Kallis made 128; Herschelle Gibbs scored 72 off 40. Boucher scored 75 not out from 31 balls, with nine fours and four sixes. In reply, the Netherlands reached 132/9 and lost by 221 runs. Notably, it was a 40-over game.
3. Angelo Mathews – 20 Balls vs Scotland in 2015
Angelo Mathews smashed the joint-second fastest fifty off 20 balls. He did it against Scotland in Hobart during the 2015 ODI World Cup. Sri Lanka made a huge total of 363/9 in the first innings. Kumar Sangakkara made 124, and Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 104. Mathews scored 51 off 21, with one four and six sixes. Scotland made 215 in reply and lost by 148 runs.
2. Brendon McCullum – 20 balls vs Canada in 2007
The record for the second-fastest World Cup fifty belongs to Brendon McCullum. He made a 20-ball half-century in the 2007 ODI World Cup against Canada. It was the 18th game on Gros Islet. New Zealand made 363/5 in the first inning. Lou Vincent made 101, and Stephen Fleming scored 66. McCullum scored 52* off 21, including one four and five sixes. Canada made 249 in the chase and lost by 114 runs.
1. Brendon McCullum – 18 balls vs England in 2015
The fastest one was registered by Brendon McCullum off just 18 balls against England. It came in the ninth game of the tournament in Wellington. England were bowled out for just 123 runs courtesy of Tim Southee’s 7/33. In reply, New Zealand made 125/2 in 12.2 overs. McCullum made 77 off 25 with 8 fours and 7 sixes.