Zeeshan Kukikhel creates T20I history

Hungarian opening batter Zeeshan Kukikhel created a new world record in T20I history by recording the highest score in a T20I chase. His powerful match-winning 137 runs experienced many glorious spaces in top T20I batting records.

It was the third and final game of the three-match T20I series between the hosts Austria and the visitors Hungary at Lower Austria, which was played last Sunday (5th June). It was a must-win game for the visitors to save this T20I series as Austria were leading this series by 1-0 (won the first game by 105 runs, and the second game had no result).

After Austria managed to put 196/6 in 20 overs by choosing to bat first, thanks to their skipper Razmal Shigiwal’s 95 not out, Hungary chased down that target in 19 overs after losing six wickets. Opener Zeeshan Kukikhel dominated that chasing with his 137 off just 49 balls (7 fours and 15 sixes) as there was no other batter to reach the 20-run mark in that innings.

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Though Itibarshah Deedar bowled Zeeshan in the 16th over, the visitors fought enough to win that series-saver game.

Here we are now talking about some crucial stats of Zeeshan Kukikhel’s incredible batting in this T20I match

• Oldest to hit a T20I century at chasing

The 36 years and 245 days old Zeeshan Kukikhel became the oldest batter to hit a T20I century at chasing. Previously, the Caribbean cricketer Chris Gayle was holding the record for the oldest to hit a T20I century at chasing, which he hit at the age of 36 years and 177 days (vs England at Wankhede on 16th March 2016).

Overall, Zeeshan became the fifth oldest to record a T20I century.

• Highest individual score in a T20I chasing

Zeeshan Kukikhel’s 137 runs were the new highest individual score in a T20I chasing. Caribbean cricketer Evin Lewis was previously holding the record for the highest score in a T20I chasing with 125 not out off 62 balls against India at Kingston on 9th July 2017.

Meanwhile, Zeeshan also recorded the joint fourth-highest score in a T20 chasing.

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Highest individual score in a T20 chasing

• Fifth highest individual score in a T20I innings

Overall T20 international history, Zeeshan became the fifth-highest individual scorer.

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Most runs in a T20I innings

• Joint fourth-fastest T20I century

After completing his fifty in 19 balls, the right-handed opener Zeeshan completed his maiden T20I century in 39 balls. It was the joint fourth-fastest T20I century.

Fastest T20I centuries

• Smashed five sixes in an over (6,6,6,0,6,6) – 7th to hit five sixes in a T20I over

It was the 12th over of the second innings of the match when the left-arm spinner Ahsan Yousuf came to bowl Zeeshan. After hitting three consecutive sixes, furious batter Zeeshan failed to score a run on the fourth ball of that over despite swinging his bat. However, he finished that over with two more consecutive sixes. Zeeshan became the seventh batter in T20I history to record five sixes in an over. 

• Second most sixes in a T20I innings

Zeeshan hit 15 sixes in that record-breaking knock. It was the second most sixes in a T20I innings. The record is 16 sixes by Afghanistan cricketer Hazratullah Zazai during his 162 not out against Ireland at Dehradun on 23rd February 2019.

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