New Zealand’s teenage debutante Muhammad Abbas made a huge splash in international cricket by setting a new record for the fastest fifty on ODI debut. On the first ODI against Pakistan at McLean Park on Saturday, the young lad struck his glorious fifty in only 24 balls.
Breaking Records in Style
Abbas was so on fire that he broke the record of India’s Krunal Pandya, who required 26 balls to hit his fifty against England in 2021. His name now sits at the top of the table for the fastest ODI fifties by a debutant with time.
Fastest ODI Fifties on Debut
PlayerTeamOpponentYearBalls TakenMuhammad AbbasNew ZealandPakistan202524Krunal PandyaIndiaEngland202126Alick AthanazeWest IndiesUAE202326Ishan KishanIndiaSri Lanka202133John MorrisEnglandNew Zealand199135
For Pakistan, Nasir Jamshed is still the fastest half-century on the first day, having smashed 50 off 40 balls against Zimbabwe in 2008.
A Crucial Cameo for New Zealand
During a major downer for the team, Muhammad Abbas stepped up to the plate, smacking tough bowlers to all parts of the ground and releasing pressure off New Zealand as a whole. His robust attacking style helped the team gather 344 for 9, a huge target for Pakistan.
Additionally, Mark Chapman played a key role in the match. His brilliant century put New Zealand in a strong position. The Kiwis came out as the winners of the game by defeating the opponents by 73 runs, and thus, they are in the lead in the three series matches.
Looking at this one of its kind performance, Muhammad Abbas has made his mark on the international stage with such a bold statement that has left cricket fans looking forward to watching him.
