ABU DHABI, Nov 2 — Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq set a new world record for the fastest Test half-century, reaching 50 off just 21 balls, on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia today.
The previous record was held by South Africa's Jacques Kallis, off 24 balls against Zimbabwe at Cape Town in 2004.
Misbah cut loose after Younis Khan fell for 46, hitting three sixes and a four off one Steven Smith over and then hit the spinner for his fourth six an over later.
In all he hit four boundaries and as many sixes.
Misbah pushed paceman Mitchell Starc for three to complete the fastest Test fifty ever which took only 24 minutes.
The previous fastest fifty in terms of time was held by Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful who took 27 minutes for his fifty against India at Dhaka in 2007.
That gave Pakistan a huge 519 run lead as they reached 210-3 at lunch on the fourth day, setting them on course for a 2-0 series win.
Pakistan, who have not won a Test series against Australia since beating them 1-0 at home in 1994, won the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai.
The previous fastest Test half-century by a Pakistani batsman was by Shahid Afridi who took 26 balls to reach the mark, against India at Bangalore in 2005. — AFP
