Italian batters break Irfan Pathan's 17-year-old ODI record

Hong Kong thumped Italy by 58 runs in a Group B game of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League. However, before the Asian associates could complete their comprehensive win, two Italian tail-enders managed to break a 17-year-old List A record previously held by JP Yadav and former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan.

Crishan Kalugamage and Jaspreet Singh topple Irfan Pathan's record

Hong Kong, batting first, charted 283 on the board, with middle-order batter Kinchit Shah standing out with a well-crafted ton. Italy's Gareth Berg removed the top three and returned later to stem Hong Kong's run flow with two more wickets to complete a five-fer.

Requiring a competitive 284 for a win, Italy's run-chase never took off. They lost wickets at regular intervals and subsequently confronted crisis at 101-8. Remarkably, lower-order batters Crishan Kalugamage and Jaspreet Singh struck incredible half-centuries during their record ninth-wicket stand.

The two batsmen shared a 124-run partnership. While Kalugamage compiled 50 off 67 balls, Singh clubbed a 60-ball 81 to back his three-wicket haul earlier in the day.

The duo's partnership marked a record for the 9th wicket or lower in List A cricket, surpassing 118 runs by former Indian cricketers Irfan Pathan and JP Yadav. The Indian pair achieved the same during a Tri-Series ODI against New Zealand back in 2005, when the Men in Blue were reduced to 44-8 at one stage.

Much like Italy's defeat to Hong Kong despite Kalugamage and Singh's rearguard fightback, India also lost to the Black Caps by 51 runs.

2019–2022 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League

The ongoing tournament features 12 teams across two groups. The table toppers of the two groups will advance to the Qualifier Play-off in 2022. As of now, Canada and Hong Kong are the leaders of Group A and Group B points table, respectively.