Scott Kuggeleijn made history in New Zealand first-class cricket by scoring the fastest fifty ever. The Northern Districts all-rounder accomplished the feat in just 19 balls against Otago in the final round of the 2024-25 Plunket Shield at Dunedin. His blazing performance eclipsed Andre Adams’ 27-year-old record of 50 runs off 20 deliveries for Auckland against Otago on his first-class debut.
In an unexpected move, Northern Districts promoted Kuggeleijn to open the second innings. The decision proved to be a masterstroke, as he scored 71 runs at an incredible strike rate of 273.07. His innings, which included three fours and eight sixes, helped his team score 140 runs in only 11 overs before declaring.
Northern Districts are now on the brink of winning the Plunket Shield, requiring only seven more wickets on the last day. Otago, suffering at 120/3 after 51 overs, still needs 287 runs for an unlikely victory. Kuggeleijn had already made an impression in the first innings, scoring an unbeaten 53 off 32 balls. With the weather expected to be an issue, Northern Districts will be hoping for clear skies to secure the championship.
