Listing the fastest half-centuries in First-Class cricket
What's the story
Meghalaya's Akash Choudhary has created history by scoring the fastest-ever half-century in First-Class cricket. He achieved this remarkable feat during a Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh at the Pithwala Ground, Surat. Choudhary came in to bat at number eight in the first innings and scored his half-century off just 11 balls, hitting eight consecutive sixes in the process. On this note, we list down the fastest fifties in FC cricket.
#1
Akash Choudhary - 11 balls, 2025
Choudhary's innings started with a dot ball and two singles before he launched an all-out assault on the Arunachal bowlers. He completed 50 runs off just 11 balls, hitting eight sixes in total. This made him only the third player in FC cricket history to hit six sixes in an over after Ravi Shastri and Garry Sobers. Choudhary faced three dot balls and ended up with a score of 50*(14) as Meghalaya went on to claim an innings win.
#2
Wayne Knight - 12 balls, 2012
As per ESPNcricinfo, Choudhary broke the record of Leicestershire's Wayne White, who clocked a 12-ball half-century against Essex in 2012. It was the third innings of the game as White arrived at number eight. He attacked from the outset and went on to smoke four fours and as many sixes en route to his unbeaten 12-ball 50. The game eventually resulted in a draw.
#3
Clive Inman - 13 balls, 1965
At number three, we have Clive Inman, who mustered a 13-ball half-century for Leicestershire against Nottinghamshire in 1965. The southpaw played this knock while batting at number five in the third innings. He returned unbeaten on 57 as the game ended in a draw. As per ESPNcricinfo, Inman took just nine minutes to touch the 50-run mark, the fastest for any player in FC history.