In a breathtaking display of dominance, Nepal delivered a resounding victory by a staggering margin of 273 runs in the inaugural match of the ongoing Men’s T20I event at the 2023 Asian Games. This action-packed clash unfolded at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou on Wednesday, September 27.
In a bold move, Mongolian skipper Luvsanzundui Erdenebulgan, in their maiden T20I appearance, chose to field after winning the toss, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.
In Nepal’s recent cricket journey, they made a notable appearance in the 2023 Asia Cup, where they squared off against formidable opponents like India and Pakistan.
In a striking showcase of dominance, Nepal’s batsmen left a resounding mark by setting a record-breaking total of 314/3 in their allotted 20 overs, despite the early loss of their openers. The star of the show, Kushal Malla, remained unbeaten at 137* runs from just 50 balls, leading the charge.
Captain Rohit Paudel added to the onslaught with a quick 27-ball 61, while lower-order sensation Dipendra Singh blazed his way to an unbeaten 52* runs from a mere ten deliveries.
More Read
The match unfolded as a stark contrast, pitting seasoned cricketers against relative newcomers, as Nepal’s bowlers dismantled the Mongolian batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 41 runs in the second innings.
Such T20I encounters often set the stage for record-breaking performances. In this thrilling contest, five remarkable records were shattered during Nepal’s extraordinary 273-run T20I victory over Mongolia on Wednesday.
Records Broken in Nepal vs Mongolia Asian Games 2023 Match:
#5 First-ever 300+ runs in T20Is
The seasoned Men in Dark Blue showcased their prowess against an inexperienced Mongolian bowling lineup, amassing a formidable first-innings total of 314/3.
Out of their impressive 314 runs, a significant 285 were contributed by the batters, with an additional 29 coming through extra runs conceded by the opposing bowlers. Nepal’s remarkable achievement came to light in the 20th over when they breached the elusive 300-run mark, etching their name in history as the first team ever to score over 300 runs in a T20I innings.
#4 Most sixes in a T20I innings
Capitalizing on the compact dimensions of the Hangzhou ground, the Nepali batsmen exploited the favorable conditions. The measured pace delivered by the Mongolian bowlers further facilitated their boundary-hitting spree.
In an awe-inspiring display of power, the Nepal batters collectively struck a remarkable 14 boundaries and an astonishing 26 maximums throughout their 20 overs. This incredible feat has now set a new standard, establishing them as the team with the most sixes ever hit in a T20I innings.
The previous record belonged to Afghanistan, who launched an impressive 22 sixes during a T20I match against Ireland in February 2019. Nepal’s extraordinary performance has now etched their name in the annals of cricket history.
#3 Largest victory by runs in T20Is
Following their sensational batting display that led to a phenomenal total of 314 runs in the first innings, the Nepali bowlers unleashed chaos with the ball. Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, and Abinash Bohara all made significant contributions, each claiming two wickets. Together, they dismantled the Mongolian lineup, restricting them to a mere 41 runs in 13.1 overs.
Nepal’s resounding victory margin of 273 runs now stands as the most substantial win ever recorded by a team in a T20I match, measured by the number of runs remaining.
#2 Fastest fifty in T20Is
On Wednesday, a long-standing record belonging to Yuvraj Singh was finally eclipsed by Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, who orchestrated the fastest T20I fifty in cricket history.
In an unprecedented display of power-hitting, Dipendra blazed his way to an unbeaten 52 runs off just ten deliveries, achieving his sixth T20I half-century in a mere nine balls. This extraordinary feat now places him at the top of the charts, not only in T20 Internationals but across all T20 matches. Along the way, Dipendra smashed an impressive eight maximums.
WATCH: Dipendra Singh Airee’s record 9-ball half century vs Mongolia
#3 Fastest T20I century
At the tender age of 19, born in 2004, Kushal Malla etched his name in the annals of cricket history on Wednesday. The talented left-hander delivered a performance for the ages, crafting a century in a mere 34 balls against Mongolia, thereby securing the title of the fastest T20I century ever achieved. This remarkable achievement saw him surpass the likes of Rohit Sharma, David Miller, and Sudesh Wickramasekara, all of whom had previously held the record with their 35-ball centuries.
