Scotland Thrash Italy To Secure A New Victory Record, Ollie Hairs Scores 40-Ball Century

Scottish opener Ollie Hairs recorded Scotland’s fastest T20I century while his nation clinched a new record-breaking win against Italy in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier 2023.

After Italy chose to field first against the hosts, Scottish openers George Munsey and Ollie Hairs set up a firing 55-run partnership for the first wicket. Though Munsey was out for 12 runs, Hairs continued his dominating batting with Brandon McMullen.

Ollie Hairs and Brandon McMullen dominated; Scotland 245/2

Hairs and McMullen set up a T20I world-record partnership for the second wicket as they added 183 runs. After equaling Scotland’s fastest T20I fifty with a 22-ball half-century, Hairs broke Munsey’s record to register Scotland’s fastest T20I century in just 40 balls.

The 32-year-old left-handed batter Hairs scored 127 not out in 53 balls with the help of 14 fours and eight sixes.

Meanwhile, McMullen scored a 32-ball fifty and stretched his batting to 96 runs off 50 balls with the help of nine fours and six sixes.

Those powerful batting helped Scotland to manage their second-highest T20I total – 245/2 in 20 overs.

Italian batting collapsed; Scotland won by 155 runs

In reply, Italy were bundled out for only 90 runs in 12.4 overs as Scotland won by 155 runs – their largest victory margin in T20I history (by runs). Only Grant Stewart managed double-digit figures in that second innings with 41 runs in 21 balls (four fours and three sixes).

Among the Scottish bowlers, Gavin Main bagged five wickets (5/26), while Bradley Currie (2/13) and Safyaan Sharif (2/14) got two wickets each.

Here are some of the crucial stats in Scotland vs Italy match in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier 2023 (all the stats updated till 24 July 2023)

T20I World record

Largest 2nd wicket partnership

Ollie Hairs and Brandon McMullen set up the record T20I second wicket partnership of 183 runs. The previous T20I record for that wicket was 176 runs by the Indian cricketers Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda (vs Ireland at Dublin, Malahide, on 28 June 2022).

Scotland record

Joint fastest T20I fifty by a Scottish player

Ollie Hairs’ 22-ball half-century was the joint fastest T20I half-century by a Scottish player. Previously, George Munsey also recorded a 22-ball fifty against Netherlands at Amstelveen on 20 June 2018.

Fastest T20I century by a Scottish player

Ollie Hairs’ 40-ball hundred was the fastest T20I century by a Scottish batter. Their previous fastest T20I hundred was a 41-ball century by George Munsey against Netherlands at Dublin (Malahide) on 16 September 2019.

• World status

Hairs’ 40-ball century was also the joint seventh-fastest T20I hundred.

Joint highest T20I individual score by a Scottish player

Ollie Hairs’ 127 not out equalled another Scottish player George Munsey’s record of 127 not out (vs Netherlands at Dublin, Malahide on 16 September 2019). Both now jointly hold Scotland’s highest individual score in T20I cricket.

• World status

Meanwhile, both 127 not out are currently joint seventh-highest score in T20I history.

Scotland’s second-highest T20I total

Scotland scored 245/2 in 20 overs. It was their second-highest T20I total. Their record T20I total was 252/3 in 20 overs (vs Netherlands at Dublin, Malahide on 16 September 2019).

Scotland’s largest T20I winning margin (by runs)

Hosts Scotland won the match by 155 runs. It was their largest T20I victory margin (by runs). Their previous record was winning by 115 runs against Netherlands at Amstelveen on 20 June 2018.

• World status

Scotland’s latest 155-run victory was also the joint 12th largest T20I victory margin (by runs). Also, it was joint third-largest T20I winning margin (by runs) for the hosts.

Scotland’s second-best T20I bowling figures

Gavin Main’s 3.4-0-26-5 were the second-best T20I bowling figures by a Scottish bowler.

Scottish bowlers with five-wicket hauls in T20I history