Nepal achieved a historic feat at the on-going Asian Games in China, becoming the first team in men’s T20 cricket to score a remarkable 300 runs. Their extraordinary performance didn’t stop there, as they thrashed Mongolia in a one-sided contest that shattered records.
Nepal’s innings saw them amass a jaw-dropping total of 314-3, setting an insurmountable target for their opponents. Mongolia, in response, was bundled out for a mere 41 runs, resulting in a record-breaking victory margin of 273 runs, a feat never before witnessed in men’s T20 cricket.
Kushal Malla, one of Nepal’s star players, left an indelible mark on the game by achieving the fastest T20 international century in just 34 balls. His scintillating innings, which remained unbeaten at 137 runs from 50 balls, included an astounding 12 sixes and eight fours.
Not to be outdone, Dipendra Singh Airee joined the record-breaking spree by notching the fastest fifty in T20 internationals, taking only nine balls to reach this milestone. He ended his blistering innings with an unbeaten 52 runs from just 10 deliveries, including an impressive eight sixes and two twos.
Before now, the record for the fastest T20 international century stood at 35 balls, held by renowned players like David Miller of South Africa, Rohit Sharma of India, and Sudesh Wickramasekara of the Czech Republic. Airee’s remarkable display of power-hitting resulted in a strike rate of 520 runs per hundred balls, setting yet another unprecedented record.
Moreover, Nepal’s batting onslaught featured a staggering 26 sixes in their innings, establishing a new international record for the most sixes in a T20 match. This record-breaking performance outshone previous records held by Afghanistan and West Indies, as well as Balkh Legend’s 23 sixes in the Afghanistan Premier League in 2018.
While Mongolia, a recently recognized International Cricket Council (ICC) associate member, made their international cricket debut in this match, Nepal currently holds the 17th position in the ICC rankings. This remarkable achievement by Nepal not only makes history but also cements their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the world of cricket.
Leon Osamor
