In T20 cricket, a contribution of even a 30 can be priceless. Due to the briefness of the format, the standards of good contribution is different, when compared with the longer format of the game.
A half-century contribution at a decent strike-rate is almost as good as a ton in the fifty-over format. Albeit, a century in T20 cricket remains an extraordinary feat.
Therefore, the most consistent batsman in top T20 leagues around the globe has a higher tally of half-centuries. Sometimes, these 50+ contributions often turn the tide of matches in favour of the teams and take the game away from fielding teams.
A batsman doesn’t need to score at a high strike-rate can only produce match-winning effects. In critical conditions, batsmen have often registered anchoring knocks to save the day for the team with a half-century, providing the foundation needed for the next batsmen.
Since 2013, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has given the platform for several batsmen to display their consistency. Today, let’s have a look at the batsmen with the most number of half-centuries in the CPL:
5. Shoaib Malik – 12
Pakistan’s limited-overs veteran, Shoaib Malik, has accumulated 12 half-centuries in his CPL career, which is the fifth-highest by a batsman in tournament’s history.
His tally of half-centuries is the second-highest amongst overseas cricketers who have taken part in the tournament.
Malik, a living legend of the game, has racked up an impressive 1707 runs at an average of almost 40, with the best score of 81. He represented Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL, playing in as many as 56 games since 2013.
The Pakistan T20I specialist has hit 112 boundaries and 51 sixes in West Indies’ premier T20 tournament. His franchise will be looking forward to his services with the bat in the upcoming edition.
4. Evin Lewis – 13
Big-hitting St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ opener, Evin Lewis, has 13 half-centuries to his name. His tally is the joint third-highest in the history of CPL.
Lewis has amassed 1552 runs in 59 games, with a strike-rate of 143 and the best score of 97*. The left-handed batsman has struck 120 boundaries and 111 sixes overall in his CPL career.
3. Colin Munro – 13
One of the most successful overseas players who has taken part in the West Indies’ premier competition is New Zealand pinch-hitter, Colin Munro.
Representing the Trinbago Knight Riders, Munro stockpiled 1546 runs at an average of 40.68. Munro has registered a tally of thirteen 50+ scores in CPL – joint third-most in the history of CPL and most by an overseas cricketer.
2. Lendl Simmons – 16
Experienced T20 campaigner, Simmons, has represented four franchises thus far, namely Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Stars, and Trinbago Knight Riders.
Simmons has featured in 71 games in CPL, where he has notched up 50+ scores on 16 occasions – second-most by any batsman in the tournament. One of the most underrated openers in T20 cricket, Simmons has contributed 2080 runs overall in the Caribbean T20 league.
The right-handed stroke-maker also has a whopping tally of 168 boundaries and 105 sixes in his CPL career.
1. Chris Gayle – 17
The ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle, is truly a behemoth of the T20 format. The highest scorer in T20 cricket also has the tally of most number of half-centuries in CPL. The southpaw leads the charts with as many as seventeen 50+ scores in the competition.
His tally of 17 half-centuries is the highest amongst batsmen. Also, Gayle has four centuries to his name. The brute-hitter accumulated 2354 runs in the league, which is also the highest overall in CPL.
However, the player with the tally of most number of half-centuries as well as centuries, will not feature in CPL 2020. Gayle pulled out of the eighth edition of CPL, due to personal reasons.
