Misbah-ul-Haq smashes fastest fifty in Test cricket off just 21 balls
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hit the fastest fifty in Test cricket, when he smashed 52* off just 21 balls before lunch on Day 4 of the 2nd Test against Australia at Abu Dhabi today.
The overnight pair of Younis Khan and Azhar Ali added 91 runs today, before Younis, who has been in incredible form this series, hitting 3 consecutive hundreds, was trapped in front of the wicket by Steve Smith on 46.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq walked in at 152/3 and was given a loosener straight up, a full toss which he smashed past the bowler for a four. On the second ball he faced, he was given a reprieve as Peter Siddle dropped an easy chance at cover, adding to Australia’s fielding woes lately.
Off Smith’s next over, Misbah collected 22 runs off four deliveries, hitting the spinner for 3 sixes and a four. With two more boundaries and a six in the next two overs, Misbah raced to 49 off 18 deliveries.
In the last over before the lunch break, Misbah faced 3 deliveries from Mitchell Johnson, clipping him for 3 runs on the last ball before the break, and completing his fifty in just 21 balls, 3 less than what Jacques Kallis faced for his world record fifty 9 years ago against Zimbabwe.
Misbah’s fifty came in just 24 minutes, another world record, 3 minutes less than Mohammad Ashraful’s 27-minute fifty against India in Mirpur in 2007.
Fastest fifties in Test cricket (by balls faced):
| # | Balls faced | Batsman | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) | 2014 |
| 2 | 24 | Jacques Kallis (SA) | 2005 |
| 3 | 25 | Shane Shillingford (WI) | 2014 |
| 4 | 26 | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 2005 |
| 5 | 26 | Mohammad Ashraful (BAN) | 2007 |
Fastest fifties in Test cricket (by minutes batted):
| # | Minutes batted | Batsman | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | Misbah-ul-Haq | 2014 |
| 2 | 27 | Mohammad Ashraful (BAN) | 2007 |
| 3 | 28 | Jack Brown (ENG) | 1895 |
| 4 | 29 | Salim Durani (IND) | 1964 |