The Nepal men’s cricket team scripted history on Wednesday, breaking a series of T20I records during its Asian Games group match against Mongolia in Hangzhou. Nepal posted a mammoth total of 314/3 in 20 overs, becoming the first team to breach the 300-run mark in the shortest format of the game. The previous highest T20I score was 278/3, which was jointly held by Afghanistan and the Czech Republic.
Dipendra Singh Airee also broke Yuvraj Singh’s long-standing record of fastest T20I half-century, reaching the mark in just nine deliveries. He ended with an unbeaten score of 52 in 10 balls, with 48 of them coming in sixes. Kushal Malla then surpassed Rohit Sharma and David Miller to score the fastest T20I hundred, reaching the mark in just 34 deliveries. He finished with an unbeaten 137 off just 50 balls, which included 8 fours and 12 sixes.
Nepal’s innings got off to a slow start, with both openers playing at a strike rate lower than 100. However, Malla and captain Rohit Paudel (61 off 27 balls) put on a 193-run partnership to turn the match around. Dipendra then gave the side a perfect finish, breaking the world record for fastest T20I half-century in the process.
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The three groups with three teams each in the first round of the men’s competition at the Asian Games. The top-placed side from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, where the likes of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will join the tournament.
T20Is records created by Nepal today in Asian games vs Mangolia
* Highest team total ever: 314-3
* Fastest T20I 100: Kushal Malla 34 balls
* Fastest T20I 50: Dipendra Singh Airee 9 balls.@CricketNep@ICC pic.twitter.com/9mjHR8iCe1— Talha Hameed Qazi (@iJilawatan) September 27, 2023
India will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had recently been a part of the ODI squad for the series against Australia, and also played in the first two matches. Nepal’s innings against Mongolia was a truly remarkable one, with the team breaking multiple world records.
- Highest T20I score: 314/3 (previous highest: 278/3)
- Fastest T20I half-century: Dipendra Singh Airee (9 balls) (previous fastest: Yuvraj Singh, 12 balls)
- Fastest T20I century: Kushal Malla (34 balls) (previous fastest: Rohit Sharma and David Miller, 35 balls)
Nepal’s performance against Mongolia was a huge boost for the team’s chances in the Asian Games. The team is in Group A with Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates. Nepal will need to finish in the top two to qualify for the quarter-finals. Nepal has a good chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, given that they are the strongest team in the group. However, they will need to be wary of the UAE, who are a dangerous side on their day.
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If Nepal does qualify for the quarter-finals, they will face a tough challenge against one of the top teams in the tournament. However, the team has shown that they have the potential to beat any team on their day. Overall, Nepal’s performance against Mongolia was a very positive one. The team broke multiple world records and showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in T20I cricket. Nepal will be looking to carry this momentum into the rest of the Asian Games and challenge for a medal.
