Nepal recently made waves in the world of cricket by achieving a series of remarkable records in a Men’s T20 International match against Mongolia at the Asian Games. This historic showdown witnessed Nepal rewriting the record books in grand fashion.
Nepal’s Stunning Performance
First and foremost, Nepal displayed an outstanding batting performance by amassing a total of 314 runs for the loss of only three wickets. This feat surpassed the previous highest T20I score of 278/3 by Afghanistan against Ireland in February 2019, a record that was later equaled by the Czech Republic. Nepal’s record-breaking innings showcased their batting prowess.
What’s even more impressive is Nepal’s monumental victory margin. They secured a win by a staggering 273 runs, making it the largest-ever margin of victory in a T20 match. The previous record was held by the Czech Republic, who had won by 257 runs in the same year.
Nepal’s dominance continued as they smashed a total of 26 sixes during their innings, setting a new record for the most sixes hit by a team in a T20 match. This accomplishment eclipsed the previous record of 23 sixes set by Balkh Legends during the Afghanistan Premier League in 2018. Notably, this also surpassed the record for most sixes in a T20 International, previously held by Afghanistan and later matched by the West Indies.
The boundaries kept flowing for Nepal as they scored 212 runs through a combination of 14 fours and 26 maximums. This achievement marked the highest total for runs scored in boundaries in a T20 match, surpassing records set in the IPL and by the Indian cricket team in a T20 International.
Individual Records: Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee Shine
Two Nepali stars, Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee, etched their names in cricket history with their extraordinary performances. Dipendra Singh Airee set a new record by reaching his fifty in just nine balls, making it the fastest half-century in the history of all International cricket. His blazing innings included eight sixes. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record held by Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, and Hazratullah Zazai.
Kushal Malla wasn’t to be outdone; he achieved his maiden T20 International century in just 34 deliveries, breaking the record for the fastest century in T20Is. This incredible achievement surpassed records held by David Miller, Rohit Sharma, and Sudesh Wickramsekara. Additionally, Malla’s century became the highest individual score for Nepal in T20Is, surpassing Airee’s unbeaten 110 against Malaysia.
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Historic Partnership
Malla and Airee also combined their talents to create a historic partnership. Their partnership of 193 runs for the third wicket is the highest ever for the third wicket or lower in T20Is, surpassing the previous record of 184 runs. This partnership also became the highest ever for any wicket for Nepal in T20Is, eclipsing their previous best of 171 runs.
Airee’s Incredible Strike Rate
Dipendra Singh Airee showcased his explosive batting skills with a staggering strike rate of 520 runs off just ten balls. This achievement marked the highest strike rate ever recorded in a T20 innings with ten or more balls faced, surpassing Malcolm Waller’s record.
Extras Play a Unique Role
In Mongolia’s response to Nepal’s dominance, extras played an unexpected role. Mongolia’s total of 41 runs featured a remarkable 23 extras, with Davaasuren Jamyansuren as the only batter to reach double figures. In an unusual turn of events, extras constituted 56% of Mongolia’s total score, marking the first instance of extras contributing more than 50% of an all-out total in T20 history.
Nepal’s astounding performance in this T20 International match will be remembered as a historic moment in cricket, showcasing their dominance and setting multiple records that are likely to stand for a long time.