Hazratullah Zazai smashed the second-highest individual score in all T20Is and Afghanistan posted the highest ever T20 total, in an evening in Dehradun where a slew of records were rewritten.
Zazai, the left-hand opening batsman, smashed 162* off just 62 balls in the second T20I against Ireland on Saturday, February 23, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. His 16 sixes, the most in a T20I innings, only enhanced his reputation as a big-hitting entertainer – he already shares the record for quickest half-century, off 12 balls, including six sixes in a single over.
He starred in a 236-run opening stand with Usman Ghani, who contributed a handy 73 off 48. It was the highest stand for any wicket in T20s, going ahead of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers’ 229 in IPL 2016.
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The 278/3 Afghanistan reached was the highest T20 total ever. And with Ireland replying with 194/6, it made for a cumulative 472 runs in the match, the third-highest in a T20I.
While they slipped to an 84-run defeat, Ireland responded with a few records of their own. Paul Stirling came out swinging, his 91 off 50 balls the best score by an Irishman in the format on the international stage.
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He and Kevin O’Brien added 126 in 11.5 overs for the first wicket, a partnership record for Ireland, improving on the 115 they set against Scotland in Oman earlier in the month.
Afghanistan lead the series 2-0.
