Sandeep Lamichhane Betters Rashid Khan; Fastest to 100 ODI wickets

image-lgqen95hSandeep Lamichhane becomes fastest to 100 ODI wickets [Twitter]

Nepalese sensation Sandeep Lamichhane created history today when Nepal took on Oman in the inaugural ACC Men's Premier Cup, Match 7. Lamichhane is now the fastest bowler to take 100 One-Day International (ODI) wickets, bettering Afghanistan' Rashid Khan.

Khan achieved this record in 44 ODIs, while the 22-year-old registered his 100th wicket in his 42nd appearance for Nepal. Lamichhane trapped wicketkeeper Adeel Shafique for 13, who became his 100th scalp.

He went on to take two more wickets, getting Kashyap Prajapati and captain Zeeshan Maqsood for 25 and 0, respectively.

Fastest to 100 ODI wickets

  • Sandeep Lamichhane - 42
  • Rashid Khan - 44
  • Mitchell Starc - 52
  • Saqlain Mushtaq - 53
  • Shane Bond - 54

Interestingly, Lamichhane is the second-ever associate nation player to break past the 100 ODI wicket mark after Kenya's Thomas Odoyo.

As of writing, Oman are 109 for 5, chasing 311 to win. Nepal, batting first, scored 310 runs in 50 overs, with Kushal Malla scoring a hundred and Sompal Kami contributing with an unbeaten 63.

Lamichhane made his ODI debut in 2018 and has since played 42* ODIs, taking 102 wickets. (*ongoing) In 40 T20Is, the Syangja-born has 78 wickets. The leg-spinner is already second-fastest to 50 ODI and third-fastest to 50 T20I wickets, respectively. 

The former Delhi Capitals (DC) bowler is currently out on bail after he was charged with sexual assault last October. Other than the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lamichhane has played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Big Bash League (BBL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). 

Nepal are currently leading Group A in the ACC Men's Premier Cup, which has sides like Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Group B has nations like United Arab Emirates (UAE), Baharain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuwait clubbed together.