The Providence Stadium is one of the largest sporting venues located in Providence, Guyana.

Located about 9 km south of the capital, Georgetown, the Providence Stadium is also  popularly known as the Guyana National Stadium.

Established in 2006, the Providence Stadium has a seating capacity of 15,000, including three major stands and a grass bank that can accommodate around 4,000 spectators.

It was built to host Super Eight matches in the ICC World Cup 2007 held in March and April.

The Providence Stadium was also one of the selected venues for the ICC World T20 2010.

Earlier in 2008, the Providence Stadium staged its first Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka. Led by Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka won the Test by 121 runs.

Since then, it has hosted two Test matches so far. Let’s have a look at the Providence Stadium Test records and stats:

Providence Stadium Test records and stats

Highest total

The Sri Lanka national cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Providence Stadium in Test cricket. During the first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies in March 2008, the Mahela Jayawardene-led visitors posted a record total at the venue in the longest format. Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka rode on Mahela Jayawardene’s 136 and Malinda Warnapura’s 120, along with contributions from Chaminda Vaas (54 not out) and Michael Vandort (52) to record 476/8d in their first innings. In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 280 in their first innings before Sri Lanka scored 240/7d to set-up a target of over 400. Chasing 437, West Indies managed 315 in the fourth innings as Sri Lanka won the Guyana Test by 121 runs.

Lowest total

The West Indies cricket team registered the lowest total at the Providence Stadium in Test cricket. Hosts West Indies were bundled out for 152 in their second innings of the first Test against Pakistan in May 2011. Shivnarine Chanderpaul top-scored for West Indies with 36 not out. Saeed Ajmal was the wrecker-in-chief for Pakistan as recorded figures of 6/42. Earlier, the Daren Sammy-led West Indies posted 226 in their first innings before they skittled out Pakistan for 160. Chasing 219 in the fourth innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 178 as West Indies registered a 40-run victory in Guyana.

Most runs

West Indies cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan scored the most runs at this ground in Tests. Between 2008 and 2011, the former right-handed batter amassed 186 runs in two Tests at an average of 46.50, including two fifties to his name. Former Sri Lankan left-hander Malinda Warnapura features second on the list with 182 runs in two innings at an impressive average of 91. He slammed one hundred and one fifty at this venue in Test cricket.

Most wickets

Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal picked up the most wickets at the Providence Stadium in Test cricket. The right-arm off-spinner bagged 11 wickets in a solitary Test in 2011 at an average of 10.09. He claimed two five-wicket hauls at the venue in Tests. Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas is second on the list with eight wickets in two innings in 2008. He took one fifer at this venue in Test cricket.

Highest individual score

Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene registered the highest individual score at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Batting at number four, Mahela Jayawardene scored 136 against hosts West Indies in the first innings of the opening Test in March 2008. His scintillating century was laced with 13 fours to help Sri Lanka post a record total of 476/8d at the venue in the longest format. The visitors rode on Mahela Jayawardene’s hundred to win the Test by 121 runs.

Best bowling figures in an innings

Saeed Ajmal recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in May 2011. The former right-arm off-spinner registered brilliant figures of 6/42 to help Pakistan bundle out West Indies for 152 in their second innings. Saeed Ajmal dismissed Darren Bravo, Kemar Roach, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Carlton Baugh, Ravi Rampaul and Devendra Bishoo. Despite Ajmal’s magnificent spell, Pakistan lost the Test by 40 runs in Guyana. 

Best bowling figures in a match

Saeed Ajmal also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Providence Stadium. The off-spinner took 11 wickets during the first Test of Pakistan’s tour of West Indies in 2011. While Ajmal bagged five wickets for 69 runs in the first innings, he scalped six wickets for 42 runs in the second innings. However, the off-spinner’s brilliant performance went in vain as West Indies beat Pakistan by 40 runs.

Highest partnership

West Indies�Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan recorded the highest partnership at the Providence Stadium in Test cricket. Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan forged a 134-run stand for the second wicket in their second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in 2008. Chasing 437 in the fourth innings, Dwayne Bravo scored 83 while Ramnaresh Sarwan added 72. Despite their best efforts, West Indies were bowled out for 315 as the visitors secured a 121-run victory in Guyana.

Photo credit: Alamy

India’s star cricketer Virat Kohli holds the record for the most fifties in T20 World Cup history.

Having made his T20 World Cup debut against Afghanistan in Colombo in 2012, Virat Kohli has smashed 15 fifties in the marquee ICC T20 tournament.

Interestingly, Kohli scored his maiden T20 World Cup fifty in his very first match against Afghanistan. Batting at number three, Kohli slammed 50 off 39 balls to power India to a 23-run win. 

Since then, Kohli has amassed 1,292 runs in 35 matches at an impressive average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81. While the former India captain has 14 half-centuries, he is yet to score a hundred in a T20 World Cup match.

Kohli’s teammate and current India cricket team captain Rohit Sharma features second on the list for most fifties in T20 World Cup.

Since making his T20 debut during the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, Rohit Sharma has hit 12 fifties in the tournament’s history. 

Rohit scored his first T20 World Cup fifty against hosts South Africa in the Super 8 stage encounter at Kingsmead, Durban.

Reeling at 33/3, the former middle-order batter scored an impressive fifty off 40 balls to help India post a match-winning total on the board.

Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle is third on the list. During the first-ever T20 World Cup match against hosts South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg in 2007, Gayle smashed the first fifty in the tournament’s history before he converted it to a three-figure milestone. The flamboyant southpaw scored a 57-ball 117, laced with seven fours and 10 sixes.

South Africa’s former opening batter Herschelle Gibbs later slammed an unbeaten 90 off just 55 balls to guide the Proteas to a scintillating eight-wicket victory in the opening match of the 2007 T20 World Cup.

Overall, Gayle has smashed seven fifties in the T20 World Cup history. He has also recorded two hundreds to his name.

Having played 33 T20 World Cup matches, Gayle is currently third in the most runs in T20 World Cup list. The left-hander has amassed 965 runs in 31 innings, behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Most fifties in T20 World Cup

Player	Span	Matches	Runs	50s
Virat Kohli (IND)	2012-2024	35	1,292	15
Rohit Sharma (IND)	2007-2024	47	1,220	12
Chris Gayle (WI)	2007-2021	33	965	7
David Warner (AUS)	2009-2024	41	984	8
Mahela Jayawardene (SL)	2007-2014	31	1,016	6
Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)	2007-2016	35	897	6
Jos Buttler (ENG)	2012-2024	35	1,013	5
KL Rahul (IND)	2021-2022	11	322	5
Suryakumar Yadav (IND)	2021-2024	17	477	5
Max O'Dowd (NED)	2021-2024	15	444	5

Photo credit: MONEY SHARMA / AFP

Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. 

During a Super 10 Group 1 clash in 2016, the flamboyant West Indies cricketer slammed a century off just 47 balls against England to record the fastest century in T20 World Cup across editions.

Chris Gayle surpassed his own record to script history as he earlier hammered a 50-ball ton against hosts South Africa in the opening match of the inaugural T20 World Cup in Johannesburg in 2007. 

The Universe Boss is the only player to register two centuries at the T20 World Cup.

The likes of New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum, Rilee Rossouw of South Africa and Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad also feature in the list of fastest centuries in T20 World Cup history.

Among Indian cricketers, Suresh Raina holds the record for the fastest century in T20 World Cup. He smashed a ton off just 59 balls against South Africa in 2010.

Get fastest century in T20 World Cup.

Fastest century in T20 World Cup

Player	Balls	For	Against	Match Date
Chris Gayle	47	West Indies	England	March 16, 2016
Chris Gayle	50	West Indies	South Africa	September 11, 2007
Brendon McCullum	51	New Zealand	Bangladesh	September 12,2012
Rilee Rossouw	52	South Africa	Bangladesh	October 27, 2022
Ahmed Shehzad	58	Pakistan	Bangladesh	March 30, 2014
Suresh Raina	59	India	South Africa	May 02, 2010
Alex Hales	60	England	Sri Lanka	March 27, 2014
Tamim Iqbal	60	Bangladesh	Oman	March 13, 2016
Glenn Phillips	61	New Zealand	Sri Lanka	October 29, 2022
Mahela Jayawardene	63	Sri Lanka	Zimbabwe	May 03, 2010

Chris Gayle | 47 balls vs England, 2016 T20 World Cup

Chris Gayle is the current record holder for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. Chasing 183, the former swashbuckling left-handed opener smashed a 47-ball century against England to guide West Indies to a six-wicket win at the Wankhede Stadium in March 2016. Gayle’s match-winning knock was laced with five fours and 11 sixes. The West Indies star remained unbeaten on 100 off 48 balls to help the Windies chase down the target in 18.1 overs.

Chris Gayle | 50 balls vs South Africa, 2007 T20 World Cup

Chris Gayle also held the previous record for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. Gayle clobbered the first T20I century in the first-ever T20 World Cup game against South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in 2007. Opening the batting, Gayle took just 50 balls to score his century. He finished with 117 off 57 balls to propel West Indies to 205/6 in their 20 overs. Gayle’s magnificent knock included seven fours and 10 sixes. Despite Gayle’s sensational knock, hosts South Africa successfully chased down the target to register an eight-wicket victory in Johannesburg.

Brendon McCullum | 51 balls vs Bangladesh, 2012 T20 World Cup

Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Brendon McCullum features third on the list for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. During a T20 World Cup 2012 group match, Brendon McCullum slammed a 51-ball century against Bangladesh in Pallekele. Batting at No.3, hard-hitting McCullum smashed 123 off just 58 balls to power New Zealand to 191/3 in their 20 overs. His knock was laced with 11 fours and seven maximums. McCullum’s knock helped New Zealand secure a comprehensive 59-run win in their Group D fixture.  

Photo credit: Alamy

Former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli holds the record for the most runs in T20 World Cup history.

Virat Kohli, who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2010, made his first appearance in a T20 World Cup in the 2012 edition at Sri Lanka.

While he has not claimed any ICC silverware in his time as T20I skipper, Virat is without a doubt one of the most dangerous batters in the world as seen with his pattern of scoring runs. At the point of writing, Virat Kohli - who registered the most runs in a T20I World Cup in the 2014 T20 World Cup (319 runs) - is the only batter with 10 fifty-plus scores in the competition, the most by any batsman ever.

Legendary Sri Lankan all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan features second on the list for most runs in T20 World Cup history. The flamboyant Dilshan, considered one of the pioneers of T20 cricket, hammered 317 runs as he powered Lanka to the 2009 T20 World Cup where they lost eventually to Pakistan. Known for his unorthodox style of batting that was immortalised with the ‘Dil-scoop� Dilshan is the first Sri Lankan player to have scored the most runs in a T20I World Cup.

Most runs in T20 World Cup: Know the players on the elite list

Player	Country	Runs	Year
Virat Kohli	India	319	2014
Tillakaratne Dilshan	Sri Lanka	317	2009
Babar Azam	Pakistan	303	2021
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	302	2010

The next player in the list is Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam, whose team fell short of qualifying for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 final on Sunday with a disheartening five-wicket defeat to Australia. Babar anchored Pakistan’s charge for their second T20 World Cup efficiently, but couldn’t muster a commanding score with the bat. However, his 34-ball 39 saw him break not one but two massive records.

With 303 runs in the tournament, Azam has become the highest run-getter on their maiden T20 World Cup appearance, surpassing former Australian opener and current Pakistan head coach Matthew Hayden's tally of 265 runs in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

But perhaps, the excitement could be reserved for the fact that Babar Azam broke a ‘Virat Kohli record.�The Pakistan skipper became the quickest to 2,500 runs in T20I cricket, achieving the feat in 62 innings. Kohli, on his part, bagged the record in his 68th inning against West Indies in 2019. 

Mahela Jayawardene is the last cricketer to score 300-plus runs in an edition of the T20 World Cup. The former Sri Lanka captain, currently the head coach of Team Mumbai in the Indian T20 League, hit 302 runs in the 2010 T20 World Cup where he also became just the third batter to register a century in T20 World Cup history after Chris Gayle (2007) and Suresh Raina (2010).

The Sri Lankan legend continues to hold the record for the most runs in T20 World Cup history, with 1,016 runs in 31 matches at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 134.74.

Most runs in T20 World Cup: In each edition

2007: Matthew Hayden (Australia) - 265 runs

2009: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) - 371 runs

2010: Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) - 302 runs

2012: Shane Watson (Australia) - 249 runs

2014: Virat Kohli (India) - 319 runs

2016: Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) - 295 runs

2021: Babar Azam (Pakistan) - 303 runs

2022: Virat Kohli (India) - 296 runs

Photo credit: AFP / Aamir Qureshi

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli currently holds the record for scoring the most runs in T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli has amassed 1,141 runs in 27 matches at a stellar average of 81.50. The former Indian skipper has struck 13 fifties, striking at over 130. His highest score is an 89 not-out against West Indies in the 2016 edition of the marquee tournament.

The talismanic batter also holds the record for the most runs in a single T20 World Cup, smashing 319 runs in six matches during the 2014 edition. 

Second on the list of most runs in T20 World Cup is former Sri Lanka cricket team batsman Mahela Jayawardene.

Having featured in five editions of the T20 World Cup between 2007 and 2014, Jayawardene amassed 1,016 runs in 31 matches at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 134.74.

The ex-Sri Lanka captain was the highest run-getter in the T20 World Cup 2010 in the Caribbean as he scored 302 runs in six matches at an impressive average of 60.40 while also maintaining a strike rate of 159.78. Interestingly, Jayawardene became the first Sri Lankan to score a ton in T20 World Cups when he achieved the feat against hosts West Indies in 2010.

The current Team Mumbai coach was also an integral member of the Sri Lanka team that won the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2014. 

Next up West Indies�swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle, who has hit the most sixes in T20 cricket, is third on the list. The southpaw has accumulated 965 runs in 33 matches at an average of 34.46 and a strike rate of 142.75.

Jayawardene’s former teammate Tillakaratne Dilshan and current Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma complete the top five list for the most runs in T20 World Cup.

Most runs in T20 World Cup

Player	Matches	Runs	AverageÂ	Strike Rate
Virat Kohli	27	1141	81.50	131.30
Mahela Jayawardene	31	1016	39.07	134.74
Chris Gayle	33	965	34.46	142.75
Rohit SharmaÂ	39	963	34.39	127.88
Tillakaratne Dilshan	35	897	30.93	124.06
David Warner	34	806	25.18	133.22
Jos Buttler	27	799	42.05	144.48
Shakib Al Hasan	36	742	23.93	122.44
AB de Villiers	30	717	29.87	143.40
Kane Williamson	25	699	33.28	113.84

ICC T20 World Cup 2007: Matthew Hayden

Former Australia left-handed opening batsman Matthew Hayden scored the most runs in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. Hayden amassed 265 runs in six matches at a staggering average of 88.33 and a strike rate of 144.80. The hard-hitting batsman notched up four fifties in the tournament. Interestingly, Australia were knocked out by eventual champions India in the semi-final.

ICC T20 World Cup 2009: Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan was the highest run-getter in the ICC T20 World Cup in England in 2009. Opening the batting for Sri Lanka, the right-hander scored 317 runs in seven matches at an average of 52.83 and a strike rate of 144.74. He played an important role in Sri Lanka reaching the final before they lost to Pakistan in the summit clash at Lord’s.

ICC T20 World Cup 2012: Shane Watson

Former Australia cricket team opener Shane Watson aggregated the most runs in the ICC T20 World 2012 in Sri Lanka. Watson pipped Mahela Jayawardene by six runs to finish as the highest run-getter in the tournament. Watson scored 249 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 150 and also maintained a healthy average of 49.80. Australia were eliminated by eventual champions West Indies in the T20 World Cup’s semi-final.

ICC T20 World Cup 2014: Virat Kohli

India star batsman Virat Kohli scored the most runs in the ICC T20 World Cup 2014 held in Bangladesh. Kohli was in staggering form in the 2014 edition, amassing 319 runs in six matches at an average of 106.33 and a strike rate of 129.14. He registered four half-centuries in the marquee event, including fifties against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the semi-final and final respectively. However, India suffered a heartbreaking loss to Sri Lanka in the final.

ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh’s swashbuckling opener Tamim Iqbal was the top scorer in the 2016 edition of T20 World Cup in India. The southpaw edged Virat Kohli as the highest run-getter, accumulating 295 runs in six matches at an average of 73.75 and strike rate of 142.51. Tamim had also smashed a T20 hundred against Oman in a Group A encounter. Unfortunately, Bangladesh were knocked out in the Super 10s of the tournament.

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Babar Azam

Pakistan captain Babar Azam pipped Australia's swashbuckling opener David Warner to finish as the highest run-getter in T20 World Cup 2021 held in UAE and Oman. Azam amassed 303 runs in six matches at an impressive average of 60.60 while also maintaining a strike rate of 126.25. The 27-year-old registered four half-centuries in the marquee T20 tournament.

ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Virat Kohli

Having finished as the highest run-getter in 2014, former India captain Virat Kohli was the top run-scorer yet again in the 2022 edition, accmulating 296 runs in six games at a brilliant average of 98.66 and strike rate of 136.40. He smashed four fifties in the process, which was the highest among all the batters. 

Photo credit: Brenton EDWARDS / AFP

Englad cricket team batters Jos Buttler and Alex Hales' 170* opening stand against India in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 is the highest partnership in T20 World Cup history.

Chasing a target of 169, the pair came out all guns blazing to register a huge 10-wicket win. While skipper Buttler scored 80* off 49, his partner took on the Indian bowlers hit a 47-ball 86.

South African cricketer Quinton de Kock’s 168-run stand with Rilee Rossouw against Bangladesh is the second highest partnership in the competition's history. The record came in a Super 12 match at the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Rilee Rossouw joined Quinton de Kock played with an attacking intent to post a total of 205/5, with de Kock scoring a 38-ball 63 and Rossouw smashing a scintillating 56-ball 109.

While de Kock smashed seven fours and three sixes, Rossouw plundered seven fours and eight maximums. Thereafter, the bowlers defended the total with ease to guide their team to a 104-run win.

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene’s 166-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara against West Indies in the 2010 edition stands third on the list of highest partnership in T20 World Cup.

West Indies got an early breakthrough after Kemar Roach dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya in the third over. However, the Lankans Mahela Jayawardene’s unbeaten 56-ball 98, which comprised nine boundaries and four maximums and Kumar Sangakkara’s brisk 49-ball 68 powered their team to a total of 195/3, getting a 166-run partnership in the process.

Defending the total, Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga took three wickets each to register an easy 57-run win.

Pakistan duo Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam also have one of the highest partnerships in T20 World Cup history.

The opening pair’s unbeaten 152-run stand against India in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup helped their side to a 10-wicket win. Rizwan and Azam both scored their respective fifties, getting a combined 12 fours and five sixes to register their first win over India in the tournament.

Earlier, Shaheen Afridi’s fiery spell restricted their opponents to 151/7 in their quota of 20 overs.

We have two more century stands, both coming in the same match, that are in the list of highest partnership in T20 World Cup.

In the Group 1 match of the T20 World Cup 2014 between Sri Lanka and England, the latter won the toss and elected to field first.

Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan made 145 runs together, which included Jayawardene’s 51-ball 89 and his Dilshans�55 off 47 balls. With contributions from other middle-order batters, Sri Lanka posted a total of 189/4.

In reply, the Englishmen lost two wickets in the first over itself with no runs on the scoreboard. However, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan’s 152-run partnership ensured early setbacks were brushed aside as they scored a century and a half-century, respectively, guiding England to a six-wicket triumph. Know the top 10 list of highest partnership in T20 World Cup history.

Highest partnership in T20 World Cup: Get the top 10 list

Partners	Team	Opposition	Runs	Year
Jos Buttler and Alex Hales	England	India	170*	2022
Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw	South Africa	Bangladesh	168	2022
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	West Indies	166	2010
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam	Pakistan	India	152*	2021
Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan	England	Sri Lanka	152	2014
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	England	145	2014
Chris Gayle and Devon Smith	West Indies	South Africa	145	2007
Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt	Pakistan	Bangladesh	142	2010
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma	India	Afghanistan	140	2021
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag	India	England	136	2007

Photo credit: AFP

Cricket’s Twenty20 format offers batters the license to go berserk and often, that freedom leads to some astonishing knocks. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the premier tournament of the shortest format, too, has seen its fair share of such breezy innings.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh holds the record for scoring the fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history.

In the famous India vs England encounter of the 2007 T20 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh smashed a half-century in just 12 balls en route to his 16-ball 58. His knock memorably included six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad following an altercation with Andrew Flintoff.

To this date, it remains the fastest fifty in the shortest format of the game.

Yuvraj Singh’s fiery innings helped eventual champions India post a daunting total of 218/4, which the bowlers successfully defended to help their team win by 18 runs. 

The World Twenty20 2022 saw Australian all-rounder Marcus Stonis play a blinder of an innings against Sri Lanka in the super 12 stage. 

The 33-year-old slammed an unbeaten 59 off 18 balls after reaching the half-century with a six off the 17th ball of his innings, which helped Australia chase down a target of 158 with more than three overs to spare. Played at a huge strike rate of 327.78, the knock comprised four fours and six maximums. 

A similar innings was also played by former Netherlands batsman Stephan Myburgh in the 2014 edition to etch his name on the illustrious list.

Chasing a target of 190, the opening batter came out with an attacking intent to slam a half-century off 17 balls, before departing for a well-made 63 off 23 balls.

His innings, coupled with other batters�contributions, helped the Dutch team breach the challenging total in just 14 overs. 

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell is another Australian on the list of players with the fastest fifty in T20 World Cup, having achieved the feat in 2014.

Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive total of 191/5 thanks to Umar Akmal’s 54-ball 94. Looking to hunt down 192 runs, opener Aaron Finch and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell got to their respective half-centuries, with the latter reaching the mark in just 18 balls. However, their heroic efforts went in vain as Pakistan won the clash by 16 runs.

Team India batter KL Rahul and former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik complete the list of fastest fifty in T20 World Cup

Both the cricketers smashed their fifties in the marquee event back in 2021 against the same opponent - Scotland. 

While KL Rahul scored an 18-ball 50 before getting dismissed off the next ball in the Super 12 fixture, Shoaib Malik scored 54* off 18 balls at a strike rate of 300. Both the knocks steered their respective teams to victory. Know the players with fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history.

Fastest fifty in T20 World Cup

Player	Team	Balls taken to reach fifty	Final score	OpponentsÂ	Year
Yuvraj Singh	India	12	58 (16)	England	2007
Stephan Myburgh	Netherlands	17	63 (23)	Ireland	2014
Marcus Stoinis	Australia	17	59* (18)	Sri Lanka	2022
Glenn Maxwell	Australia	18	74 (33)	PakistanÂ	2014
Shoaib Malik	Pakistan	18	54* (18)	ScotlandÂ	2021
KL Rahul	India	18	50 (19)	ScotlandÂ	2021
Mohammad Ashraful	Bangladesh	20	61 (27)	West Indies	2007
Yuvraj Singh	India	20	70 (30)	Australia	2007
Shadab Khan	Pakistan	20	55 (22)	South Africa	2022
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	21	65 (27)	Kenya	2007

Photo credit: Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP

Scoring a century is a massive feat for any batter in T20 cricket. 

Considering each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs (120 legal balls), registering a century in T20 format often helps a side put a good total on the board.

With the ever evolving T20 format, batters now look to smash the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Hence, a batter’s strike rate has become one of the important stats to judge the significance of a T20 knock.

To calculate a batter’s strike rate in cricket, we must divide the total number of runs they have scored by the number of deliveries they have faced. Then, the value is multiplied by 100 to get the strike rate of the batter.

However, when a pitch is tricky or any team is in a difficult position, it becomes challenging for a batter to score runs freely.

There have been instances when batters had to hang in and work very hard to score a century in T20 cricket. 

Let’s have a look at the list of few slowest centuries in T20 international cricket.

Slowest century in T20 international cricket

Player	Balls	Against	Venue	Year
Martin Guptill	69	South Africa	East London	2012
Morne van Wyk	67	West Indies	Durban	2015
Rohit Sharma	64	Afghanistan	Bengaluru	2024
Mahela Jayawardene	63	Zimbabwe	Providence	2010
Rohit Sharma	62	South Africa	Dharamshala	2015

Martin Guptill, 69 balls vs South Africa, 2012

Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill scored the slowest century in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa in 2012, Guptill registered a 69-ball hundred in East London. After the visitors restricted the Proteas to 165/5 in 19 overs a side game, Martin Guptill opened the innings with Rob Nicol. Guptill later played the full 19 overs as he smashed a four off the last ball of the match to take New Zealand to an eight-wicket victory. While the right-handed batter became just the second batter to score a hundred while chasing in T20Is, he recorded the slowest century in T20 international at a strike rate of 146.37.

Morne van Wyk, 67 balls vs West Indies, 2015

Former South Africa cricketer Morne van Wyk features second on the list of the slowest century in T20 international cricket. Opening the batting, Morne van Wyk scored a century off 67 balls against West Indies in the third T20I in Durban. The wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten on 114 off 70 balls to help South Africa post 195/3 in their 20 overs. Morne van Wyk’s maiden international century was laced with nine fours and seven maximums. In reply, West Indies were bundled out for 126 in 19 overs as South Africa won the match by 69 runs. 

Rohit Sharma, 64 balls vs Afghanistan, 2024

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is third on the list of the slowest century in T20 international cricket. During the third T20I of Afghanistan’s tour of India in 2024, Rohit Sharma scored a 64-ball century in Bengaluru. Opting to bat first, India were reduced to 22/4 in 4.3 overs while the Indian skipper was still at the other end. Rohit then later stitched an incredible unbeaten 190-run stand with Rinku Singh for the fifth wicket. Rohit remained unbeaten on 121 off 69 balls, which included 11 fours and eight sixes. Rinku also scored a 39-ball 69 to guide India to 212/4 in their 20 overs. In reply, Afghanistan managed 212/6 in their allotted overs as the match went into two Super Overs, which India later won.   

Photo credit: Alamy

The Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground is one of the famous sporting venues in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Often described as “the Lord’s of Sri Lanka� the SSC Cricket Ground was established in 1952 and has a seating capacity of 10,000.

The Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) between Sri Lanka and England in 1982. The visitors won the Test by five runs.

It later hosted its first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 1984, which ended in a draw. Since then, the stadium has hosted more than 40 matches in Test cricket. 

The Sri Lankan cricket team has a decent record at Sinhalese Sports Club in Test cricket, registering 20 wins, 14 draws and suffering 10 losses.

Let’s have a closer look at the Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground Test records and stats.

Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground Test records and stats

Highest total

The Sri Lanka national cricket team holds the record for the highest total at Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the first Test of South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2006, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 756/5d in their first innings. After bundling out South Africa for 169 in the Proteas�first innings, Sri Lanka rode on Kumar Sangakkara’s 287 and captain Mahela Jayawardene’s 374 to register a massive first innings lead. Sri Lanka later bowled out South Africa for 434 in the visitors�second innings to win the Test by an innings and 153 runs. 

Lowest total

Sri Lanka registered the lowest total at Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Tests. The Nasser Hussain-led England bowled out Sri Lanka for 81 in 28.1 overs in their second innings of the third Test in 2001. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles was the wrecker-in-chief for England as he picked up four wickets for just 11 runs in his 9.1 overs. England won the Test by four wickets to clinch the three-match series 2-1.

Most runs

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. Between 1997 and 2014, the stylish right-handed batter accumulated  2,921 runs in 27 Test matches at an average of 74.89. Jayawardene also slammed 11 hundreds and nine fifties at this venue in Test cricket. Jayawardene’s former teammate Kumar Sangakkara is second on the list with 2,312 runs in 22 Test matches.

Most wickets

Legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bagged the most wickets at SSC Cricket Ground in Test cricket. The right-arm off-spinner picked up 166 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 20.69. Muralitharan scalped nine four-wicket hauls and 14 fifers at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Tests. Former left-arm spinner Rangana Herath features second on the list with 84 wickets in 14 Tests.

Highest individual score

Mahela Jayawardene registered the highest individual score at Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Tests. Batting at number four, Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 against South Africa in 2006. His brilliant knock was laced with 43 fours and one six. Jayawardene’s innings powered Sri Lanka to a dominant victory in the first Test of a two-match series as the hosts thrashed South Africa by an innings and 153 runs. 

Best bowling figures in an innings

Former Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2014, the left-arm spinner registered figures of 9/127 in the visitors�first innings. Herath later bagged another five-wicket haul in Pakistan’s second innings to help Sri Lanka secure a 105-run victory in Colombo and seal the two-match series 2-0.

Best bowling figures in a match

Rangana Herath also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at SSC Cricket Ground in Test cricket. The left-arm spinner took 14 wickets during the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2014. While Herath picked up nine wickets for 127 runs in the first innings, he bagged another five-wicket haul for 57 runs in the second innings. Herath’s incredible bowling performance helped Sri Lanka win the Test by 105 runs. The hosts later won the two-match series 2-0.

Highest partnership

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene registered the highest partnership at this ground in Test cricket. The legendary Sri Lankan duo forged a mammoth 624-run stand for the third wicket in their first innings of the opening Test against South Africa in 2006. It is still the highest partnership in Test cricket history. Sangakkara scored 287 while Jayawardene slammed 374. Sri Lanka won the Test by an innings and 153 runs.

Photo credit: Alamy

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs in ODI cricket. The former Indian cricket team captain tallied an impressive 18,426 runs in 463 matches during his career that spanned between 1989-2012.

Tendulkar, who also holds the record for scoring the most hundreds in the sport (100) across formats, made his ODI debut against Pakistan in December 1989. In his first two ODIs, the ‘Little Master�recorded consecutive ducks before opening his account against New Zealand in March 1990, scoring a 39-ball 36.

It took Tendulkar almost a year to score his first half-century in the One-Day International (ODI) format. During the second ODI of Sri Lanka's tour of India in December 1990, the top-order batter scored 53 runs off 41 balls as India successfully chased 230 with six wickets to spare.

Since hitting that half-century against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar became one of the greatest batsmen to have ever graced the sport. From his debut (1989) to retirement in 2012, he registered 49 tons followed by a whopping 96 fifties with his highest score being an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010. 

Tendulkar ended his ODI career with an average and strike rate of 44.83 and 86.23 respectively. During this time, he hit 2016 fours - the most by any player in the format - and 195 sixes.

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara sits second on the list of the most runs in ODIs. The wicket-keeper batsman scored 14,234 runs in the format between 2000-2015. During this time, he hit 25 tons and 93 half-centuries. Ricky Ponting follows Sangakkara with 13,704 runs as Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430) and Virat Kohli (12,809) complete the top five list.

Virat Kohli has scored the most runs in ODI cricket among active players. The 34-year-old has amassed 13,024 runs in 278 matches at an average of 57.63. Kohli has the best average among players to have scored more than 2,000 career runs in the 50-over format.

Most runs in ODI cricket

Player	Team	Span	Matches	Runs	Average	High score	100s	50s
Sachin Tendulkar	India	1989-2012	463	18,426	44.83	200*	49	96
Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	2000-2015	404	14,234	41.98	169	25	93
Ricky Ponting	Australia	1995-2012	375	13,704	42.03	164	30	82
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	1989-2011	445	13,430	32.36	189	28	68
Virat Kohli	India	2008-2023*	278	13,024	57.63	183	47	65
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	1998-2015	448	12,650	33.37	144	19	77
Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	1991-2007	378	11,739	39.52	137*	10	83
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	1996-2014	328	11,579	44.36	139	17	86
Sourav Ganguly	India	1992-2007	311	11,363	41.02	183	22	72
Rahul Dravid	India	1996-2011	344	10,889	39.16	153	12	83

Featured photo: AFP / Munir Uz Zaman