Matthew Forde equals AB de Villiers’ record with joint-fastest ODI fifty blitz

Matthew Forde scores fifty in 16 balls against Ireland. (Photo: X)

During the second ODI against Ireland in Dublin on May 23, Matthew Forde of the West Indies made history. Forde followed in AB De Villiers' footsteps by smashing the joint-fastest fifty in ODI history that the South African had struck against the West Indies at Johannesburg in 2015. It only took 16 balls for the number eight batsman to get his half-century.

Forde’s brilliant innings came to an end when he was dismissed in the 47th over for 58 runs off just 19 deliveries. 56 of his 58 runs came from boundaries thanks to his scorching knock, which was dotted with two fours and eight sixes. The visitors had a great chance to tie the three-match series after the 23-year-old's rapid-fire performance helped the West Indies to a total of 352 for eight in their 50 overs.

Batters with fastest fifties in ODIs:

AB de Villiers - 16 balls - South Africa vs West Indies (2015)

Matthew Forde - 16 balls - West Indies vs Ireland (2025)

Sanath Jayasuriya - 17 balls - Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (1996)

Kusal Perera - 17 balls - Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (2015)

Martin Guptill - 17 balls - New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (2015)

Liam Livingstone - 17 balls - England vs Netherlands (2015)

Batting first, the West Indies got off to a rough start as both of their openers left early, with Brandon King reaching eight and Evin Lewis scoring twenty. But the visiting team gained momentum thanks to a pivotal innings from number three Keacy Carty, who scored 103 runs. The West Indies still needed a solid finish, and Matthew Forde delivered it. Captain Shai Hope contributed 49. He was instrumental in helping the West Indies score 352 runs during the powerplay by smashing boundaries all around the park.

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In contrast, Ireland's bowlers had a difficult day.  Liam McCarthy gave up 66 runs but managed to take three wickets, while their star pacer, Joshua Little, let up a whopping 89 runs in his ten overs, while taking two wickets.

Notably, the hosts had defeated the West Indies by a commanding 124 runs in the opening ODI. That game saw Ireland score well over 300 runs, but the Hope-led team faltered with the bat and suffered a crushing defeat. But in this second game, they were able to reverse the trend and post a big total, but the match was called off due to rain.

Forde, who bowls right-arm medium-pace, had played a fine cameo in the first ODI that Ireland had won by 124 runs. When West Indies were struggling at 71 for six while chasing 304, he helped salvage their innings with 38 runs off 48 balls and a 98-run seventh-wicket partnership with Roston Chase. West Indies lost by 124 runs, though.