Chittagong Vikings opening batsman Luke Ronchi hit the second fastest BPL fifty after Ahmed Shehzad against Rangpur Riders in their second and last match of the first phase in Sylhet yesterday.

Pakistan batsman Shehzad clattered 16-ball half-century for Barisal Burners against Duronto Rajshahi in the BPL maiden edition in 2012 though he later converted it to triple digit and implanted his names in BPL folklore as the first centurion of the blockbuster T20 tournament. He slammed a full dozen fours and half-a-dozen sixes in his unbeaten knock of 113 off just 49 deliveries.

At the hillock and tea garden-girt Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS), Ronchi was too aggressive with his bat from the beginning of the proceedings. The 36-year-old New Zealander opened his account with a bang when he smashed Mashrafe for a six following two back-to-back dot deliveries. He therefore hits another maximum in the same over.

In the subsequent over, the wicketkeeper-batsman looked more dangerous when he struck 14 runs, out of 15 runs of that Sohag Gazi’s over, including three boundaries. Therefore, he was more ruthless on Nazmul Islam when he blasted Nazmul for three sixes and one four to make 22 runs, out of 23 runs.

The right-handed experienced batsman, who had played T20 leagues for Guyana Amazon, Mumbai Indians and Perth Scorchers across the world, stepped into the BPL record book when he clouted Malinga to long-on for a single.  In the initial three overs, he made 96 percent of the total runs.

Ronchi, who represented New Zealand in 4 Tests, 85 one-day internationals along with 32 (134) T20Is after being debuted in 2008, blitz ended on 78 when he wanted to make a lofted drive on Ravi Bopara’s full slower delivery but it deceived him for the pace.

His classy 35-ball 78 that emblazoned with six towering sixes as many fours that orchestrated Chittagong Vikings to post 166 for four in 20 overs on the board.