T20 cricket always demands scoring quick runs. That is why we see batters taking more risks for more rewards. That is why fans also love this format. It will not be a wrong statement to say that since the inception of T20 cricket, the game has evolved at a rapid pace. We are looking at teams scoring big runs and batters playing more cameos.
In this article, we will cover some of the fastest half-centuries ever scored in the history of Twenty20 internationals. Sri Lanka wrote history when they won the 2010 T20 World Cup and became only the third team to do so. They always had some big match-winners in their ranks. So let’s check the fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka.
List of Fastest 50 in T20 for Sri Lanka
| Player | Balls | Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dasun Shanaka | 20 | 56* (22) | India | Pune | 05/01/2023 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 21 | 65 (27) | Kenya | Johannesburg | 14/09/2007 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 21 | 78 (37) | India | Nagpur | 09/12/2009 |
| Kusal Perera | 22 | 66 (37) | India | Colombo | 06/03/2018 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 23 | 51* (23) | New Zealand | Wellington | 22/12/2006 |
| Tillakratne Dilshan | 23 | 57 (28) | New Zealand | Colombo (RPS) | 02/09/2009 |
| Kusal Mendis | 25 | 53 (27) | Bangladesh | Mirpur | 15/02/2018 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 25 | 54* (25) | Australia | Pallekele | 11/06/2022 |
| Dilshan Munaweera | 26 | 53 (29) | India | Colombo | 06/09/2017 |
Tillakratne Dilshan (23 balls) vs New Zealand in 2009
Another 23-ball fifty that came for Sri Lanka is registered under the name of former opener Tillakaratne Dilshan. It came against New Zealand in 2009 at Colombo Stadium. It was the Black Caps that batted first and scored 141/8 in 20 overs. That wasn’t a big target, and Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with Dilshan. He scored a 23-ball fifty and made 57 off 28 balls, with 8 fours and two sixes. But Sri Lanka lost the game by three runs and made 138/9.
Sanath Jayasuriya (23 balls) vs New Zealand in 2006
Sanath Jayasuriya was one of the most explosive openers that the game has seen. He has hit the joint-fourth-fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka in T20Is. It came against New Zealand in 2006 in Wellington. Batting first, the Black Caps scored 162/8 in their first innings. But then came the rain, and Sri Lanka was given a revised target of 45 runs. And it was Jayasuriya who single-handedly won the game. He hit a 23-ball fifty and made an unbeaten 51* off 23 balls, with 10 fours and one six. Sri Lanka made 62/1 in just 5.5 overs and won the game.
Kusal Perera (22 balls) vs India in 2018
The third fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka came against India in 2018. It was the first game of the Nidhas Trophy tri-series. Batting first, India made a total of 174/5 in their first innings. Shikhar Dhawan made 90 off 49 balls. In reply, Sri Lanka needed a good performance, and that’s what happened. Perara gave them the much-needed contribution. He scored a 21-ball fifty and made 66 off 37 balls, with six fours and four sixes. Sri Lanka made 175/5 in 18.3 overs and won the match.
Kumar Sangakkara (21 balls) vs India in 2009
Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara was among the best batters that Sri Lanka has ever produced. He holds the record for the joint- second fastest T20I fifty for his country. It came against India in 2009 in Nagpur. It was the first game of the two-match series. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a huge total of 215/5, thanks to a 21-ball fifty from Sangakkara. He made 78 off 37 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes. In reply, India could only make 186/9 and lost the game by 29 runs.
Mahela Jayawardene (21 balls) vs Kenya in 2007
Former Sri Lanka batting great Mahela Jayawardene is at the top of the list with the joint- second fastest T20I fifty. It was a match against Kenya in the 2007 T20 World Cup in Johannesburg. After winning the toss, Kenya chose to bowl first. But that decision turned out to be the wrong one. Batting first, Sri Lanka went on to score a massive score of 260/6 in their 20 overs. Sanath Jayasuriya made 88 off 44, and Jayawardene scored a 21-ball fifty and made 65 off 27 balls, with nine fours and two sixes. In reply, Kenya got out for 88 runs in 19.3 overs, and Sri Lanka won by a massive 172 runs.