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Kusal Perera Shatters Records with Fastest Fifty Against New Zealand in World Cup History

image-lor0fe8dKusal Perera scored the fastest fifty of World Cup 2023 (Twitter)

In a stunning display of attacking batting at the ICC World Cup 2023, Sri Lankan opener Kusal Perera etched his name into the record books with a breathtaking half-century against New Zealand on Thursday. The match, played at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, witnessed Perera's blistering knock, which was an apt combination of brute force and elegance.

NZ vs SL: Perera rewrites history with rapid fifty vs Kiwis

Perera, known for his attacking gameplay, reached his fifty in just 22 balls, marking the fastest fifty of the tournament. This feat not only electrified the crowd but also brought a glimmer of hope to the Sri Lankan side. His innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting, characterized by a fearless approach against New Zealand's formidable bowling attack.

This half-century is significant as it stands as the fastest fifty by any player against New Zealand in the history of the World Cup. Perera's innings was a mix of nine boundary fours and two sixes which showed his ability to find gaps and clear the ropes with equal ease. However, his valiant effort was cut short by Lockie Ferguson, who dismissed him for a 28-ball 51.


Perera's record is placed alongside some of the fastest fifties in Sri Lankan World Cup history. He shares the record for the second-fastest fifty with Dinesh Chandimal, who also scored a 22-ball fifty against Australia in 2015. However, Angelo Mathews holds the record for the fastest fifty by a Sri Lankan in World Cup history, having achieved the milestone in just 20 balls against Scotland in 2015.

Despite Perera's explosive start, Sri Lanka find themselves in an abysmal position. The team, already eliminated from the World Cup contention, is struggling at 95/5 after 15 overs. The lower-middle order, with Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews at the crease are facing the challenge of steering Sri Lanka towards a competitive total.