Delhi Capitals' Jake Fraser-McGurk matched his own record for the fastest fifty of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a 15-ball fifty, ranking as the third fastest overall, against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday.
The 22-year-old became only the third batter in the history of T20 cricket to smash a fifty in 15 or fewer balls on two occasions.
The first two to accomplish this feat are Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, who are playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024.
Jake Fraser-McGurk's scores in IPL 2024
55 (32) vs Lucknow Super Giants
20 (10) vs Gujarat Titans
65 (18) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
23 (14) vs Gujarat Titans
84 (27) vs Mumbai Indians.
Fraser-McGurk got off to a splendid start, hitting two boundaries off MI’s Luke Wood in the opening two deliveries of the match, followed by a six off the third delivery. Another four came in the fifth delivery, resulting in 19 runs scored from the initial over.
He then struck MI’s key bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, for a six and a four, finishing the over with yet another four. Bumrah conceded 19 runs in his first over, the most so far for him in IPL 2024.
Nuwan Thushara faced a similar fate as Fraser-McGurk connected with nearly every delivery, dismantling the Sri Lankan bowler with three fours in the over.
Fraser-McGurk's new opening partner, Abhishek Porel, merely watched the action unfold, scoring at a pedestrian pace. Fraser-McGurk reached his fifty in just 15 deliveries, matching his own fastest fifty record from earlier in the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The introduction of spin only led to the ball travelling further, as Piyush Chawla was hit for a six and a four. MI skipper, Hardik Pandya, brought himself into the attack, but Fraser-McGurk dispatched him for two fours and two sixes.
In the eighth over, Chawla managed to dismiss Fraser-McGurk. Bowling it slightly short and on the stumps, Jake attempted to slog it away over deep mid-wicket, but Mohammad Nabi took a good catch in the deep.
While batting with a strike-rate of 311.11, he smokes six maximums and 11 fours.