Australian cricketer Laura Harris made history on Sunday by becoming the second woman to hit the fastest fifty in T20 cricket, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. The 35-year-old achieved this milestone in just 15 deliveries during the Women’s Super Smash match between Otago and Canterbury at Molyneux Park in Alexandra, New Zealand.
Playing for Otago, Harris equalled the record set by England’s Marie Kelly, who also scored a 15-ball half-century for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire in 2022. In her debut for Otago, Harris scored 52 runs off 17 deliveries, including six boundaries and four sixes, before being dismissed by Canterbury seamer Gabby Sullivan.
Harris’ impressive innings helped Otago chase down the 146-run target in just 14.5 overs, securing
a six-wicket victory. She was named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance. Prior to the Women’s Super Smash, Harris had a disappointing outing in the Women’s Big Bash League, representing Sydney Thunder Women and scoring only 69 runs in 10 matches with an average of 11.50.
Overall, the veteran Australian has played 133 Women’s Big Bash League matches, scoring 1344 runs at an average of 16.59, with one half-century and a strike rate of 160.76.
The fastest fifty in women’s T20I cricket is held by New Zealand’s Sophie Devine, who achieved an 18-ball half-century during a Bengaluru T20I against India Women in 2015, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield and India’s Richa Ghosh have also recorded the joint fastest half-centuries in T20Is. Litchfield’s 18-ball fifty came against West Indies Women in Sydney in 2023, while Ghosh reached the milestone against the Caribbean Women in 2024 in Navi Mumbai.
(With ANI Inputs)
