World Cup 2015: Brendon McCullum hits fastest World Cup fifty

Wellington: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum today added another feather to his cap by hitting the fastest-ever World Cup fifty. The right-hand batsman reached the landmark in just 18 balls against England at Westpac Stadium.

The opener's whirlwind  innings of 77 (40) featured eight fours and seven sixes. He was bowled out by the pacer Chris Woakes but the damage was already done.

He also beat his own World Cup record when he carved fast bowler Steven Finn for four, having made a fifty off 20 balls against Canada in 2007.

New Zealand today beat England by 8 wickets in the ninth game of the ICC World Cup.

McCullum's inning was also the equal third-fastest fifty in all ODIs. South Africa's AB de Villiers played 16 balls to hit 50 runs whereas Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya faced 17 balls to reach the landmark.