Please register to access this content.
To continue viewing the content you love, please sign in or create a new account
Dismiss
This content is for our paying subscribers only

Afghanistan hit world record T20 score as Hazratullah Zazai demolishes Ireland bowlers

His 162 not out helped Afghanistan to post a mammoth 278-3 against Iraland



Afghan's Hazratullah Zazai raises his bat to celebrate scoring century during Afghanistan's T20 cricket match against Ireland in the northern Indian city of Dehradun on February 23, 2019.
Image Credit: AFP

Dehradun, India: Hazratullah Zazai scored 162 not out to power Afghanistan to the biggest team total in a Twenty20 international and an 84-run win over Ireland on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Zazai, playing only his fifth T20 for Afghanistan, smashed 16 sixes and 11 fours in a 62-ball innings as Afghanistan reached 278-3. It eclipsed the previous highest T20I score of 263-3 by Australia against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2016.

Lefthander Zazai's score was the second-highest individual innings in T20 internationals. Australian Aaron Finch holds the record with 172 against Zimbabwe in Harare last year.

Ireland captain Paul Stirling made a fighting 91 off 50 balls in his team's reply of 194-6 but Ireland fell well short of the target to trail 2-0 in the three-match series.

Stirling and Kevin O'Brien (37) shared a 126-run opening wicket stand but both fell in successive overs before prolific leg-spinner Rashid Khan ran through the batting by claiming 4-25.

Advertisement

In a record-breaking day for Afghanistan, openers Zazai and Usman Ghani (73) shared a record 236-run partnership - for any T20 wicket - off 105 balls.

Ireland got a chance to dismiss Zazai on 72 in the 10th over, but George Dockrell missed a sitter at point boundary.

Stirling used eight bowlers, including his one over of off-spin which went for 24 runs.

Zazai reached his half-century off 25 balls and then completed his hundred off 42 balls by smashing Stirling for a six over long on.

Zazai's 16 sixes in an innings were two more than Finch's previous record of 14 against England at Southampton in 2013.

Advertisement

Afghanistan will look for a series sweep when both teams meet again on Sunday.

Advertisement