Andre Russell smashes 14-ball fifty in CPL

Jamaica Tallawahs posted 255 for 5 from their 20 overs against St Lucia Kings, the second highest score in Caribbean Premier League history

Andre Russell smashed a 14-ball fifty for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League to record the third-fastest half-century in T20 history.

His monster knock helped the Tallawahs post 255 for 5 from their 20 overs against St Lucia Kings, the second-highest total ever scored in the CPL.

The 33-year-old, who entered the match in the 18th over, scored a six off the first delivery of the 19th over before running a single off a free hit. The next four balls he faced went for six, six, five no balls, and a six to see the Tallawah’s score 32 runs off the over.

Bowler Wahab Riaz finished with figures of 0 for 61 from his three overs – the fourth-most expensive three-over spell in T20 history.

Andre Russell has just launched the fastest ever CPL fifty! 💥

Runs: 50*
Balls: 14
Fours: 3
Sixes: 6
Strike-rate: 357.14#CPL21 pic.twitter.com/2QQd10j8s5

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 27, 2021

Russell’s final seven balls, bowled by Obed McCoy, yielded one, six, six, no ball, dot, and two fours.

Russell ended his innings with three fours, six sixes and a strike rate of 357.14 while Jamaica Tallawahs scored 85 runs off the last five overs.

Only four players have ever reached fifty off fewer balls in a T20 match. Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle and Hazratullah Zazai have each scored a 12-ball half-century while Marcus Trescothick scored a 13-ball fifty for Somerset against Hampshire in 2010.

Russell previously scored a 14-ball fifty for Colombo Kings aginst Galle Gladiators in the 2020 Lanka Premier League.

The previous fastest CPL half-century was scored by JP Duminy, who took 15 balls to reach fifty for Barbados Tridents against Trinbago Knight Riders in 2019.

The highest total scored in the CPL is 267 for 2, achieved by Trinbago Knight Riders against the Tallawahs in 2019.