T20 cricket is ruthless for batters, and the mantra is clear: hit out or get out. Teams nowadays cross 200+ scores in just 120 balls with ease, thanks to power-hitting from ball 1. However, the game is full of uncertainties, and there are matches when even the best of big hitters fail to hit the ball and barely get runs in the usual way. On tricky tracks, the cudgel goes down to the sensible batters who value solid batting over unnecessary risks. Just like how the fifties are made off just 12-13 deliveries, there are instances when the batter holds his bat high, playing at a strike rate under 100. Here is the list of the Top 5 Slowest Fifty in T20 cricket history.
Donnex Kansonkho
The Malawi opener struggled his way through to hit a fifty against Rwanda before departing off to a run-out. The southpaw’s stay was close to 90 mins, during which he could only smash 2 fours and 1 six. He joins the list of the Slowest Fifty in T20, scoring 54 off 65 deliveries at a sluggish strike rate of 83.07.
Lendl Simmons
A runaway match-winner for any side in the shortest format of the game. The flamboyant stroke maker Simmons earned his reputation as a T20 specialist, but his inconsistency led to his downfall in international cricket. Back in CPL 2016, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots were on the back foot after the batting unit collapsed like a pack of cards. Simmons the lone warrior, batted responsibly to take his team to a respectable total. His 50 came off 60 deliveries with just 1 six and 2 fours off his willow. Also Read: Top Five Best All-rounders in T20I History
Paul Weekes
Back in 2004, when T20 cricket was more of an experiment to make the sport more enthusiastic, England held Twenty Cups to popularize the shortest format of cricket. Players had nil experience, and each came on the field with a different approach altogether. In the match between Essex and Middlesex, the latter was chasing a below-par 121-run target, and hence opener Paul Weekes switched to the authentic form of batting. He ensured no hiccups in the chase after the fall of skipper Strauss and hit a decent 65-ball 55 at a strike rate of 84.61.
Kangabam Singh
Manipur entirely lost their track, chasing 172 against Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019. Captain K Singh led the side from the front but barely got any support from his fellow teammates. He smashed 2 sixes and 4 fours in his 65-ball 55 while the rest of the batters could not even surpass the 2-digit mark.
Waldo Lategan
The middle-order Southpaw was always a crisis man who could bat for long but failed to complement it with an impressive strike rate. Against Namibia, South Western Districts were put under pressure in a low-scoring chase as wickets tumbled down in the powerplay. Lategan was assertive for his 50 off 59 deliveries but was unable to take his side home.
Also Read: Top 5 players with most Man of the Match awards in T20Is.
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