19th Asian Games 2023: Nepal becomes the first team to register 300-runs in T20 cricket history

When Nepal stepped out to play to against Mongolia earlier today, not many would have thought of such a surprising match of T20 Cricket. The South Asian nation became the first team to breach the unthinkable 300-run mark in the shortest format of Cricket.

Their opponents Mongolia were not even an ICC affiliated nation and Nepal happened to take full advantage of that. Throughout the timeline of T20 cricket, we have seen everything, from the “Gayle Storm” to McCullum’s mighty knocks to King Kohi’s combative chases but there have been absolutely no players who have helped their team register more than 300 runs.

Nepal makes history in #AsianGames in T20I history
– First team to score 300 runs
– Highest Total: 314/2
– Kushal Malla: Fastest T20I 💯 in 34 ball
– DS Airee: Fastest T20I fifty in 9 ball
– Most sixes in a T20I inninng- 26
A historic day for Nepal cricket!🔥#NepalCricket pic.twitter.com/q18HTNWeZ7

— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) September 27, 2023

Mongolia won the toss and elected to bat first at the ZJUT Cricket Field at Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Nepal did not have the greatest of starts with openers Kishan Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh departed for 19 and 16 off 23 & 17 balls respectively.

However, Kushal Malla who came in at No.3 started running riot against Mongolia’s bowling attack. He batted at a strike rate of 274 and dealt with only sixes and fours. Malla’s Captain Rohit Paudel from the other end complimented his efforts and scored 61 off 27 including 6 sixes and 2 Fours.

NEPAL BECOME THE FIRST TEAM TO SCORE 300+ IN T20I CRICKET 🇳🇵🔥🔥🔥

Nepal have just created history in China. They have amassed 314/3 in 20 overs against Mongolia, breaking Afghanistan's previous record of 278/3 against Ireland. Just unbelievable ❤️❤️❤️ #AsianGames2023 pic.twitter.com/zYSzDVsubM

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) September 27, 2023

But what was more special was Kushal Malla’s incredible knock. It was only a couple of weeks ago that he got out for 2 against India (Asia Cup 2023) and today he ended up scoring the fastest Century in T20 cricket surpassing the record of Rohit Sharma and David Miller.

The Indian Captain and South African left-handed batter reached their respective centuries in 35 balls, but Kushal Malla only took 34 deliveries. He remained Not out and left the crease after amassing 137 off 50 including 12 sixes and 8 Fours.

Later when Rohit Paudel got out for 61, No.5 batter Dipendra Singh Airee eclipsed another record of another India Great – Yuvraj Singh. It took Yuvi 12 balls to score a Half-century against England during the inaugural ICC T20 World cup, the same match where he humiliated Stuart Broad.

Yuvraj did so in a new ICC tournament, and he might have missed out on watching Dipendra Singh Airee break his record at last. Dipendra made the most out of the only 10 balls he faced, scoring 52 with 8 Sixes.

In case of any confusion, the ICC have granted T20 status to all Cricketing activities in the Asian Games.