The first men’s T20 cricket match of the Asian Games 2023 occurred on Wednesday, September 27, between Nepal and Mongolia. Nepal emerged victorious in this match, played in Hangzhou, China, achieving a remarkable victory by a margin of 273 runs.
Nepal Historic Win Over Mongolia and Record-Breaking Performances
Mongolia won the toss and chose to field at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field. However, this decision proved wrong as Nepal’s batsmen delivered an outstanding performance. Nepal’s team, batting first, amassed a colossal total of 314 runs on the scoreboard in just 20 overs. Kushal Malla and Captain Rohit Paudel spearheaded an aggressive partnership, amassing 193 runs in only 65 balls.
This partnership etched a new chapter in Nepal’s cricket history. Nepal’s total of 314/3 established a new T20 International record for the highest team score, surpassing Afghanistan’s previous record of 278/3 against Ireland in 2019. Nepal’s achievement of breaking Afghanistan’s record marked a significant milestone. In this match, Paudel and his team smashed 26 sixes in their innings, setting a new record for the most sixes in a T20I innings.
Mongolia, tasked with chasing Nepal’s imposing score, was restricted to just 41 runs in 13.1 overs. Nepal secured a sensational victory with a margin of 273 runs, the largest ever in T20I cricket in terms of runs. Nepal’s batsmen showcased their brilliance in this match, setting multiple new records. Kushal Malla was the standout performer, scoring 137 runs in 50 balls, including 8 fours and 12 sixes.
Captain Rohit contributed 61 runs from 27 balls. Additionally, a remarkable achievement unfolded on the cricket field, leaving fans astonished. Nepal’s all-rounder, Deependra Singh Airi, reached his fifty in just 9 balls. This feat shattered the previous record held by former Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh for the fastest fifty in T20 cricket.
