In an astonishing display of power-hitting, Nepal’s men’s cricket team etched their names in the record books during an unforgettable T20 international match against Mongolia at the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Nepal rewrote history by amassing a staggering 314-3 in their allotted 20 overs, surpassing the previous record of 278-3 set by Afghanistan against Ireland in 2019.
The young sensation, Kushal Malla, batting at number three, led the charge by registering the fastest T20 international century ever, achieving the milestone in a mere 34 balls. The 19-year-old’s explosive innings eclipsed the previous record jointly held by South Africa’s David Miller, India’s Rohit Sharma, and the Czech Republic’s Sudesh Wickramasekara, all of whom took 35 balls to reach their centuries. Malla, a left-hander who made his debut for Nepal at the tender age of 15, concluded his innings at an unbeaten 137 off just 50 deliveries, punctuated by an incredible 12 sixes and eight fours.
Nepal’s batsmen were relentless on a sunny morning at the Zhejiang University for Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field. Captain Rohit Paudel contributed significantly, scoring 61 off 27 balls, featuring six sixes. However, it was Dipendra Singh Airee who brought the innings to a jaw-dropping close against the Mongolian bowlers, smashing an unbelievable eight sixes in an unbeaten 52 off just 10 balls.
Airee’s extraordinary half-century was reached in a mind-boggling nine balls, establishing yet another T20 world record that seems unbeatable. His feat shattered the previous record of 12 balls, held by India’s Yuvraj Singh against England in 2007.
Nepal’s innings was a six-hitting extravaganza, setting a new record of 26 sixes, surpassing Afghanistan’s previous record of 22 against Ireland.
In contrast, Mongolia, whose women’s team had a challenging start in the Asian Games, was dismissed for a mere 41 runs in 13.1 overs.
Nepal’s victory margin of 273 runs was the largest ever recorded in men’s T20 international cricket, surpassing the Czech Republic’s 257-run victory over Turkey in 2019.
While Mongolia’s cricketers face an uphill battle in the tournament, Nepal’s remarkable performance has put them in good stead as they prepare to face the Maldives in the coming days. The Asian cricket giants, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, will join the preliminary group winners in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Mongolia’s women’s cricket team, who had a challenging debut, showcased incredible resilience despite their limited exposure to the game. With cricket gaining ground in Mongolia, their journey in international cricket promises growth and development for the sport in the region.
