James Neesham etched his name in the record books of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) with a blistering knock, scoring the fastest fifty in the tournament’s history. Playing for Janakpur Bolts against Chitwan Rhinos, the New Zealand all-rounder reached his half-century in just 18 balls, setting a new benchmark for quick scoring in the league.
Chasing a target of 181 runs, Janakpur Bolts struggled to keep up with the required run rate despite Neesham’s heroics. He played an explosive innings of 65 off 24 balls, which included 5 fours and 6 sixes, before being dismissed. Once Neesham departed, the rest of the batting lineup faltered, and Janakpur managed to score only 148 in 18 overs, falling well short of the target.
Here’s a look at the top five fastest fifties in the NPL:
- 18 balls – James Neesham (Janakpur Bolts) vs Chitwan Rhinos
- 20 balls – Andries Gous (Pokhara Avengers) vs Chitwan Rhinos
- 23 balls – Dipendra Singh Airee (Sudurpachim Royals) vs Chitwan Rhinos
- 28 balls – Stephen Eskinazi (Pokhara Avengers) vs Lumbini Lions
- 28 balls – Kushal Malla (Chitwan Rhinos) vs Lumbini Lions
