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.
Highest individual score in a T20 chasing
Player (Team) | Runs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Luke Wright (Sussex) | 153* | Essex | Chelmsford | 25th July 2014 |
Chris Gayle (Somerset) | 151* | Kent | Taunton | 31st May 2015 |
Michael Bracewell (Wellington) | 141* | Central Districts | New Plymouth | 8th January 2022 |
Mohammed Azharuddeen (Kerala) | 137* | Mumbai | Wankhede | 13th January 2021 |
Zeeshan Kukikhel (Hungary) | 137 | Austria | Lower Austria | 5th June 2022 |
Fifth highest individual score in a T20I innings
Overall T20 international history, Zeeshan became the fifth-highest individual scorer.
Most runs in a T20I innings
Player (Team) | Runs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Aaron Finch (Australia) | 172 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 3rd July 2018 |
Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan) | 162* | Ireland | Dehradun | 23rd February 2019 |
Aaron Finch (Australia) | 156 | England | Southampton | 29th August 2013 |
Glenn Maxwell (145*) | 145* | Sri Lanka | Pallekele | 6th September 2016 |
Zeeshan Kukikhel (Hungary) | 137 | Austria | Lower Austria | 5th June 2022 |
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
Player (Team) | Balls to complete century | Opposition | Venue | Date |
David Miller (South Africa) | 35 | Bangladesh | Potchefstroom | 29th October 2017 |
Rohit Sharma (India) | 35 | Sri Lanka | Indore | 22nd December 2017 |
Sudesh Wickramasekara (Czech Republic) | 35 | Turkey | Ilfov County | 30th August 2019 |
Sivakumar Periyalwar (Romania) | 39 | Turkey | Ilfov County | 29th August 2019 |
Zeeshan Kukikhel (Hungary) | 39 | Austria | Lower Austria | 5th June 2022 |
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.
