Watch: Nepal batter Dipendra Singh Airee scored a nine-ball half-century in the 2023 Asian Games against Mongolia, setting, quite literally, an unbreakable record.
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Nepal and Mongolia were involved in a bizarre game of cricket where several records were shattered some of which might never be broken again.
Batting first in the notoriously small Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket ground in Hangzhou, Nepal posted a mammoth 314-3 off their 20 overs against Mongolia, who were playing their first-ever official international match.
Kushal Malla scored the fastest men’s T20I century of all time, reaching the three-figure mark in 34 balls. He remained unbeaten on 137 off 50 balls with eight fours and 12 sixes. If the fastest T20I century was not enough, the Nepal innings also witnessed the fastest half-century in all T20 cricket.
Airee, who came out to bat at No.5, in the 19th over, smashed eight sixes off the ten balls he faced, reaching his half-century in a scarcely believable nine balls.
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The first six balls he faced were deposited for sixes, five off the bowling of Mungun Altankhuyag in the 19th over and one off Luvsanzundui Erdenebulgan in the 20th. Airee then scored a two off his seventh delivery, reaching 38.
The next two balls were hit for two more sixes, giving him his 50 off nine balls – unless aided by overthrows, it is impossible for a batter to reach 50 faster. He finished the Nepal innings with another couple of runs to remain unbeaten on 52 off 10 balls.
The records created in this competition will be added to the official T20I records since the event has T20I status.
Nepal then routed Mongolia with the ball as well, bowling them out for 41 and winning the game by 273 runs.
Watch Dipendra Singh Airee hit eight sixes in nine balls to reach fastest-possible T20I half-century in the 2023 Asian Games:
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