Nepal made a sensational start to their campaign at the 2023 Asian Games, registering a record-breaking win over Mongolia in the opening match of the Men’s Cricket competition. Batting first, Nepal posted a mammoth total of 314/3, the highest in T20I history. Kushal Malla struck the fastest-ever T20I hundred in 34 balls, while Dipendra Singh Airee smashed the fastest-ever T20I fifty in 9 balls. Mongolia was bundled out for just 41 in reply, giving Nepal a victory by a margin of 273 runs, the largest in T20I history.
Nepal Record-Breaking Batting Performance
Nepal got off to a steady start, with openers Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Malla putting on a 42-run partnership for the first wicket. Sheikh was dismissed for 21, but Malla continued to play aggressively and brought up his half-century in just 24 balls.
Malla was then joined by skipper Rohit Paudel, and the duo put on a 150-run partnership for the second wicket. Paudel played a solid knock of 61, but Malla was the aggressor, smashing sixes and fours at will.
Malla reached his century in just 34 balls, eclipsing the previous record of 35 balls held by David Miller and Rohit Sharma. He continued to bat freely after reaching his century and was eventually dismissed for a record-breaking 137 off just 50 balls.
Dipendra Singh Airee, who came in at number five, also played a blistering knock, smashing the fastest-ever T20I fifty in just 9 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 52 off 10 balls.
Nepal finished their innings on a mammoth 314/3, the highest total in T20I history. They hit a total of 26 sixes in their innings, also a record for the most sixes in a T20I innings.
Mongolia’s Lackluster Bowling Performance Against Nepal
Mongolia’s bowlers were completely out of sorts on the day, and they were unable to contain Nepal’s batsmen. None of the Mongolian bowlers were able to take more than one wicket, and they conceded a total of 314 runs in their 20 overs.
Nepal’s Dominant Bowling Performance
Nepal’s bowlers were just as impressive as their batsmen, and they bundled out Mongolia for just 41 runs in reply. Sandeep Lamichhane was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 10 runs in his 4 overs.
Karan KC and Sompal Kami also took two wickets each, as Mongolia were bowled out for their lowest total in T20Is.
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Conclusion
Nepal’s victory over Mongolia was a truly remarkable one. They broke a host of records in both batting and bowling, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in the rest of the tournament.
Nepal Cricket’s Rise Continues
Nepal’s victory over Mongolia is a testament to the rise of cricket in the country. Nepal has been making steady progress in recent years, and they are now one of the leading associate cricket nations in the world.
Nepal’s success is due to a number of factors, including the development of a strong domestic structure, the emergence of talented young players, and the support of the government and the cricket board.
Nepal’s victory over Mongolia is a historic moment for Nepali cricket, and it is sure to inspire a new generation of players to take up the sport.