IPL fastest fifties: Gayle tops with 17-ball effort

Twenty20 cricket is all about getting quick runs. While every batsman gives his best to ensure the same, for some it comes naturally.

So even as we put together a list of the fastest fifties, bear with us if there is predictability in the list.

We can't help it; nobody can! These batsmen are meant to smash the ball.

Expectedly, it is Chris Gayle who leads the pack.

The West Indies opener completed a half century off just 17 balls in Royal Challengers Bangalore's match against the Pune Warriors at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

He proceeded to score 175 not out (off just 66 balls), the highest individual score in the IPL, besting Brendon McCullum's 158 not out for Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural edition, even as his side put up 263 for five in their stipulated 20 overs.

Pune's fate was sealed even before they went out to bat.

For they record, all they could score was 133 for nine.

If it was Chris Gayle who made Pune Warriors suffer at the Chinnaswamy, it was AB de Villiers who displayed similar skills when the latter welcomed Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The South African smashed 26 runs off the final over by Ashok Dinda to remain unbeaten on 50 not out (off just 23 balls) even as RCB amassed a mammoth 187 for three.

Pune, inspired by Robin Uthappa's 75 off 45 balls, did significantly better in the chase but still fell 17 runs short.

MS Dhoni's 26-ball 51 came in Chennai Super Kings' first match.

The captain did his best to help his side close in on the visitor's total of 148 for six.

However, his dismissal in the final over meant CSK fell nine runs short.

Dhoni's effort, thus, came in a lost cause.

David Warner has, without doubt, been the best Delhi Daredevils batsman this season.

While the Australian has thus far hit four half centuries in the ongoing tournament, it is his 25-ball 51 not out against Pune Warriors at the new Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International stadium in Raipur that is the fastest, and probably best, of the lot.

Warner's fifty came off just 24 balls even as Delhi Daredevils scored 164 for five, eventually winning by 15 runs.

David Miller, having scored an incredible 80 not out against Pune Warriors and a 25-ball 51 not out in a lost cause against the Chennai Super Kings, led King XI Punjab to an impressive chase against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The South African hit an unbeaten 101 in Mohali, reaching his fifty off just 24 balls.

The 23-year-old struck eight fours and seven sixes during the course of his innings and reached his century, which also ensured Punjab's win, with a huge six off Chris Gayle.

Miller's was the third fastest century in the IPL and it left the West Indies player, among many others in the Bangalore camp, stunned.