Cricket History Rewritten: Akash Chaudhary Smashes Fastest-Ever First-Class Fifty in 11 Balls
Meghalaya batsman also becomes the first player in history to hit eight consecutive sixes, matching Ravi Shastri’s six-in-an-over feat during a record-breaking Ranji Trophy innings.
In a stunning and brutal display of power-hitting, Meghalaya’s Akash Chaudhary etched his name into the annals of cricket history on Sunday, smashing the world record for the fastest-ever half-century in first-class cricket.
During a Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh in Surat, the 25-year-old batsman reached his fifty in just 11 balls, breaking the previous record of 12 balls set by Leicestershire’s Ven White in 2012.
An Innings of Pure Carnage
What makes Chaudhary’s feat even more astonishing is that he also became the first player in first-class history to hit eight consecutive sixes.
Coming in to bat at number eight, Chaudhary’s innings started innocuously with a dot ball and two singles from his first three deliveries. What followed was a breathtaking assault, as he proceeded to launch the next eight balls he faced for six, racing to his half-century and into the record books.
His barrage included hitting six sixes in a single over, a feat that puts him in the elite company of players like Ravi Shastri and Garry Sobers. The unfortunate bowler on the receiving end was left-arm spinner Limar Dabi.
Thanks to Chaudhary’s explosive cameo, which included a total of eight sixes, Meghalaya was able to declare its first innings at a massive 628 for 6.
From Obscurity to History
This record-breaking performance is a remarkable turn in form for the 25-year-old, who was playing in just his 31st first-class match since his 2019 debut. Before this historic innings, Chaudhary had a modest record, having scored 503 runs with two half-centuries at an average of 14.37.
However, he had shown glimpses of his batting prowess earlier in the month, scoring an unbeaten 60 off 62 balls against Bihar. With this incredible 11-ball fifty, Akash Chaudhary has ensured his name will be remembered long after this match is over.