West Indies pacer Matthew Forde etched his name into the record books on Friday, May 23, by equalling the record for the fastest half-century in One Day Internationals. He achieved the milestone in just 16 balls during the second ODI of the ongoing series against Ireland at Castle Avenue in Dublin.
The 23-year-old, batting lower down the order, stormed to fifty in just 16 deliveries, matching the long-standing record held by South Africa’s AB de Villiers. De Villiers had set the benchmark back in 2015 against the West Indies in Johannesburg, where he eventually smashed 149 runs off just 44 balls.
Forde’s blistering knock ended on 58 runs from only 19 balls, featuring a remarkable eight sixes. Out of his total, 56 runs came through boundaries, underlining the explosive nature of his innings. His late-innings onslaught proved crucial in pushing West Indies to a commanding total of 352 for 8.
The visitors had a shaky beginning, losing openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis early for scores of 8 and 20, respectively. However, Keacy Carty steadied the innings with a well-constructed century, making 103 runs that laid a solid foundation. Skipper Shai Hope added 49, but the innings needed a spark in the final overs—and that came from Forde.
He launched a brutal assault on the Irish bowlers, finding the boundary at will and lifting West Indies well beyond the 350-run mark. His explosive cameo not only shifted the momentum but also ensured a dominant finish for the Caribbean side.
For More Sports Related News: Follow RevSportz