Liam Livingstone hits England's fastest T20I fifty

The Lancashire batsman brought up the landmark in just 17 balls – four quicker than Eoin Morgan’s twin efforts against New Zealand in 2019 and South Africa in 2020

Liam Livingstone struck the fastest half century by an England cricketer in T20Is as he launched an extraordinary onslaught on Pakistan’s bowlers at Trent Bridge.

The Lancashire batsman brought up the landmark in just 17 balls – four quicker than Eoin Morgan’s twin efforts against New Zealand in 2019 and South Africa in 2020.

When he raised his bat, he had hit five sixes and three fours, including a huge hit off Haris Rauf over square leg and consecutive strikes off Shadab Khan.

The milestone came just a week after Nat Sciver hit England Women's fastest-ever T20I fifty against India at Northampton.

It meant that by the time the 10th over had come to an end, England had hit 10 sixes – 10 more than Pakistan managed in their 20 overs, though the visitors’ remarkable second half during which they smashed 152 runs in 60 balls meant that statistic was of little consequence.

Dawid Malan hit England’s fastest T20I hundred in New Zealand in 2019, coming off just 48 deliveries.

The record for the fastest T20I fifty by any player still belongs to India’s Yuvraj Singh on the night that he hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in a single over. His half century came up in just 12 balls.

Livingstone’s knock was also the fastest against Pakistan, requiring one ball fewer than Glenn Maxwell’s 18-ball fifty for Australia in 2014.