Colin Munro blasts 2nd fastest 50 in T20s

The touring Lankans are having horrid time – losing 2 Tests; 2 ODIs and 2 T20s in New Zealand ~ can you identify this Cricketer who played his only test at Port Elizabeth, in 2013.  If you can, do you know who are the Cricketers 3^rd & 4^th in the list of fastest T20 50s ?

He is 28 year old Colin Munro – left hand bat and right arm fast bowler.  Today at 4.5 Guptill smashed the ball over long on and scored the fastest fifty for NZ in 19 balls only to be overshadowed at Eden Park. 

Tests have been played at Eden Park since 1929-30 and the ground hosted New Zealand's first Test victory, against West Indies in 1955-56. But it is also the scene of a dark day in New Zealand Test cricket history when, on 28 March 1955, the hosts collapsed to their lowest Test score - 26 all out - against England. Cricket is not the only sport played there; there's rugby union, too. The isthmus was settled by Māori around 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land. Many pā (fortified villages) were created, mainly on the volcanic peaks.  It is the  Auckland Region, one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. In Māori, Auckland's name is Tāmaki Makaurau and the transliterated version of Auckland is Ākarana. Eden Park is New Zealand's largest stadium, located in central Auckland. 

At Eden Park in T20 476, 2^nd match of the Series, Sri Lanka made 142/8 and NZ ramped home in 10 overs !  After the  abject Sri Lanka collapse full of witless batting, it was a clinical performance by New Zealand's seamers,  a fast start from Martin Guptill, all featured in Sri Lanka's final heavy defeat of the tour. Their embarrassment was enhanced a little here for having come in front of an Auckland crowd of over 17,000, and by Colin Munro, who bludgeoned the second-fastest half-century in T20s to close out a match that had never really been in doubt for New Zealand. He was unbeaten on 50 from 14 balls, having hit seven sixes and a four.

Some may say that Eden park is known for its short boundaries, Sri Lanka's batsmen aimed slog after slog at the straight fence, and fell predictably, and in quick succession.  Perhaps more would come from Munro from now on.

Incidentally, it is only the 2^nd having off 14 – the first is our own Yuvraj Singh who is making a comeback now.  He made it off a mere 12 at Durban in 2007 against England – ask Stuart Broad ! The third & 4^th involves Ireland.  PR Stirling made 50 off 17 against Afghanisthan in 2012 and SJ Myburgh made the same against Ireland for Nederlands. 5^th comes the dangerous Chris Gayle; 10^th is today’s knock of Guptill.  Gautam Gambhir has made a 50 off 19 [9^th in the list] – the 12^th and 13^th are also by Yuvraj off 20 balls.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

10^th Jan 2016