Hardik Pandya scored the fastest fifty of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as the Mumbai Indians all-rounder achieved the milestone in just 17 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
The record previously belonged to Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant who scored a 18-ball fifty against Mumbai Indians.
Fastest 50s for MI in IPL (balls faced):
17 K Pollard v KKR, Mumbai, 2016
17 I Kishan v KKR, Kolkata, 2018
17 H Pandya v KKR, Kolkata, 2019 *
19 Harbhajan v KXIP, Mumbai, 2015
Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen fired on all cylinders to post the season’s highest total -- 232 for two.
Staring at elimination following a six-match losing streak, the embattled KKR got off to a fiery start with Shubman Gill (76) and Chris Lynn (54) putting on a 96-run opening stand, their highest this season, after Rohit Sharma opted to bowl in his 100th match as captain.
READ: KKR vs MI: Rohit Sharma expresses anger after LBW dismissal - Watch
Andre Russell, KKR’s biggest impact player of the season, was finally seen higher up the order at No 3. The West Indies power-hitter ensured that KKR finished on a high with an unbeaten 80 off 40 balls.
{{/usCountry}}Andre Russell, KKR’s biggest impact player of the season, was finally seen higher up the order at No 3. The West Indies power-hitter ensured that KKR finished on a high with an unbeaten 80 off 40 balls.
{{/usCountry}}Fielding let down Mumbai Indians big time with both Lynn and Russell dropped early in their innings by Kieron Pollard and Evin Lewis respectively.
(With agency inputs)