Meghalaya’s Akash Choudhary Creates History With Fastest First-Class Fifty
Meghalaya cricketer Akash Choudhary has etched his name in cricket history by smashing the fastest first-class fifty ever recorded, achieving the milestone in just 11 balls during a Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh.
Key Highlights
- Scored fastest first-class fifty in just 11 balls
- Hit eight consecutive sixes during his innings
- Became only third player to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket
- Broke Wayne White’s previous record of 12-ball fifty
The 25-year-old all-rounder created the historic moment on Sunday in Surat, joining the elite company of legends Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri as only the third player to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket.
The Record-Breaking Innings
Walking in at number eight with Meghalaya comfortably placed at 576/6, Choudhary started cautiously with a dot ball and two singles before unleashing his assault. In the 126th over of the innings, he demolished left-arm spinner Limar Dabi, smashing six consecutive sixes.
Choudhary continued his onslaught in the following over, hitting off-spinner TNR Mohith for two more sixes to complete his fifty in just 11 deliveries – breaking the previous record of 12 balls set by Leicestershire’s Wayne White against Essex in 2012.
Historic Achievement
According to ESPNcricinfo, Choudhary’s explosive innings also ranks as the second-fastest fifty in terms of time taken in first-class cricket history. His 11-ball blitz came in just nine minutes, falling just one minute short of Clive Inman’s record set in 1965 when the Leicestershire batsman reached his half-century in eight minutes against Nottinghamshire.
The Meghalaya cricketer remained unbeaten on 50 from 14 deliveries as his team declared at 628/6. Choudhary later contributed with the ball, taking one wicket as Arunachal Pradesh were bundled out for 73. Enforcing the follow-on, he struck twice more to reduce the opposition to 29/3 at stumps.
Choudhary’s Cricket Career
The historic innings came in Choudhary’s 31st first-class match. Prior to this game, the all-rounder had scored 503 runs at an average of 14.37 with two fifties. His recent form included an unbeaten 60 off 62 balls with four sixes against Bihar in the previous fixture.
With the ball, Choudhary has been a consistent performer, claiming 87 first-class wickets at 29.97, along with 37 List A wickets and 28 T20 wickets.
