This Nepal Star Smashed 19-Ball Fifty To Join Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi's Huge ODI Record
Anil Sah celebrating his half-century (x.com)
Nepal opening batsman Anil Sah bludgeoned a 19-ball half-century at Kirtipur to set up a huge win for his side against Canada in the second ODI of their three-match series. Chasing 286, the cricketer unleashed seven boundaries and three sizzling sixes in his whirlwind knock, and raced to his 50 in just the seventh over of the innings.
Through his match-winning effort, Sah has not only become the fastest half-centurion in Nepal’s ODI history, but also joined a gallery of great players for an all-time 50-overs international record.
Anil Sah joins Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi for huge record
Nepal opener Anil Sah clubbed 50 scintillating runs from just 19 balls against Canada earlier this week. In doing so, the 25-year-old overcame teammate Aasif Sheikh’s 21-ball effort against PNG last year to register the fastest-ever half-century in Nepal’s ODI history.
Moreover, Sah now also holds the record for one of the fastest ODI fifties of all time, as he levelled up with some of the all-time greats of the game. Previously, former players like Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Brendon McCullum, David Hussey, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp, Ross Taylor as well as Malaysia’s active all-rounder Syed Aziz made 19-ball half-centuries at some point of their careers to jointly hold the fourth-fastest record.
Former South African captain AB de Villiers, who blasted a 16-ball 50 against West Indies back in January 2015; continues to remain ODI cricket’s fastest half-centurion to date. As many as four other players, namely Sanath Jayasuriya, Liam Livingtone, Martin Guptill and Kusal Perera have tonked 17-ball 50s while seven other players (including Shahid Afridi, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch among others) have listed 18-ball half-centuries in their careers.
Interestingly, Anil Sah registered another 50-plus score against Canada in the final ODI of their three-match series on February 12, i.e., just a couple of days after his 19-ball blitzkrieg at Kirtipur.