Matthew Forde made a big impression in the international cricket scene on Friday by tying the record for the fastest fifty in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) during the second match against the West Indies in Dublin. Coming in at number eight, the 23-year-old smashed a half-century in just 16 balls, matching the record set by AB de Villiers back in 2015 against the same team. His explosive knock came just when Ireland needed it, trying to bounce back after a heavy loss in the first ODI.
Forde finished with 58 runs off 19 balls in the 47th over, hitting two fours and a staggering eight sixes. Impressively, 56 of his runs came from boundaries, leaving the Irish bowlers in shock from his powerful hitting. Thanks to Forde’s late fireworks, Ireland posted a solid 352 for eight in their 50 overs, a big improvement from their batting struggles in the series opener.
This innings continues Forde’s good form, as he had already contributed with a tough 38 in the first match, forming a crucial partnership with Roston Chase when the team was in trouble at 71 for six while chasing 304. Although Forde mainly bowls medium pace, it was his aggressive batting that grabbed the attention this time. With this feat, he joined a select group of big hitters known for their record-fast fifties, alongside stars like Sanath Jayasuriya and Martin Guptill. Ireland kicked off the series with a win over the West Indies by 124 runs in the first ODI.