ICC World Cup 2023: Fastest 50s by Sri Lankan batters in ODIs, Kusal Perera slams fastest this WC

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ICC World Cup 2023's last match for Sri Lanka didn't go as per plan as the Islanders were bundled out for just 171 runs against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday (November 9). However, Kusal Perera's fastest century of the tournament was a positive they could take from their final game.

Kusal Perera slammed a half-century in just 22 deliveries, getting past the 25-ball joint record set during the ICC World Cup 2023 by compatriot Kusal Mendis and Australia's Travis Head. We take a look at where this knock stands in the all-time list of fastest half-centurys by Sri Lankans in ODIs.

Fastest 50s by Sri Lankans in ODIs overall

Note: The innings in bold came at an ICC World Cup

However, New Zealand bowlers came too hard on the Lankans on the day with Trent Boult leading the charge. The Southpaw took three wickets for 37 while Lockie Ferguson (2/35), Mitchell Santner (2/22), and Rachin Ravindra (2/21) picked two wickets each.

Apart from Perera's fast-paced innings, runs came from tailender Maheesh Theekshana down at No. 9 as the spinner scored a 91-ball 38 to add some semblance of respect to the Sri Lankan total. Theekshana added 43 runs for the last wicket with Dilshan Madushanka (19), who was the last Lankan wicket to fall with Ravindra doing the finishing act.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 171 in 46.4 overs (Kusal Perera 51; Trent Boult 3/37, Mitchell Santner 2/22) vs New Zealand.

Sri Lanka Playing 11: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham (wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

New Zealand Playing 11: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka