Cricket is a funny game, and over the years, there have been some unexpected moments that have become one of the talking points among the fans. Just like scoring runs in T20s with a strike rate of less than 100. The shorter format is probably the most followed format among the fans.
One prime reason behind it is that fans get to see more boundaries and sixes. But what if a player plays slowly? Some such incidents were also recorded in the Indian Premier League. Here we will talk about the top five slowest half-centuries scored in IPL history. Some really aggressive batters make this list, so it can certainly surprise you.
List of Top Five Slowest Half-centuries in the Indian Premier League (IPL)
Slowest Half-centuries in IPL
5. Gautam Gambhir (51 balls)
There are three batters who have recorded a 51-ball fifty in the IPL (Gautam Gambhir, Matthew Hayden, and Jacques Kallis). But Gambhir is slotted at No. 5 because his overall strike rate in the innings was very low. Gambhir smashed a 51-ball IPL fifty against CSK in the IPL 2010 in Chennai, which came in a winning cause. He made an unbeaten 57 off 56, and the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) won the game by six wickets, chasing 113 runs.
4. Robin Uthappa (52 balls)
The joint-third slowest half-century in the IPL was registered by Robin Uthappa. It came in the 2012 season in a game between the Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils. Uthappa was playing for Pune and scored a 52-ball fifty and made 60 not out from 58 balls. Pune made 146/2, and Delhi chased it down in 16 overs to win by 8 wickets.
3. Brendon McCullum (52 balls)
Brendon McCullum was known for his aggressive batting style, which he showed in the first game of the inaugural season when he smashed an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls. But he scored one of the slowest IPL half-centuries as well. McCullum’s slowest fifty came off 52 balls while playing for KKR in the IPL 2010. MI made 133/8, and KKR scored 135/1 to win by nine wickets. McCullum scored 57 not out from 56 balls at a strike rate of 101.78.
2. Parthiv Patel (53 balls)
The second-slowest IPL fifty is registered under the name Parthiv Patel. It came during the 2010 season in Chennai in a game between PBKS and CSK. This game ended in a tie, with both teams scoring 136. Chasing the target of 137, CSK ended up scoring 136/7. Parthiv made a 53-ball fifty and scored 57 off 58 balls. His slow approach cost the game to Chennai.
1 JP Duminy (55 balls)
The slowest IPL fifty took 55 balls, and it was registered in the 2009 season. It was the game between Kings XI Punjab (Punjab Kings) and Mumbai Indians. Batting first, Punjab only managed 119/8 in the first innings. But despite a low target, Punjab defended the title as MI made 116/7 in their chase. JP Duminy was the lone survivor for MI, as he made a 55-ball fifty and scored 59 off 63 balls. He scored almost 55 percent of the team’s runs, but the slow innings certainly pushed MI from the chase.
