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McCullum does it again! Hits fastest 50 in World Cup!

February 20, 2015

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum embraces teammate Martin Guptil after their 100-run partnership during the World Cup match against England. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum smashed his way into the record books after posting the World Cup's fastest half century, off a mere 18 balls, in a Pool A match of the ongoing mega-event against England in Wellington.

- Scorecard

- Southee, McCullum destroy England in Wellington

- Photos from the match

His whirlwind half-century featured seven fours and four sixes. He found the fence eight times besides hitting seven sixes, as New Zealand chased down England's paltry target of 123 in just 12.2 overs at the Westpac Stadium.

He was out for 77, off 25 balls, as New Zealand's score read 105 for 1.  His 77 included eight fours and seven sixes.

The New Zealand opener bettered his own World Cup record when he hit fast bowler Steven Finn for six, having made a fifty off 20 balls against Canada in the 2007 edition in the West Indies.

His innings was also the equal third-fastest fifty in all One-day internationals, behind South Africa's AB de Villiers (16 balls) and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya (17 balls).

However, the Man-of-the-Match award went to fast bowler Tim Southee, who produced the third best spell in World Cup history, returning figures of 7 for 33 to lay the foundation for a big win.

Recommended by Rediff.com

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