Afghanistan smashed a record T20I score of 278-3 against Ireland as Hazratullah Zazai blasted 162 not-out off 62 balls at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun on Saturday.
Hazratullah smoked 11 fours and 16 sixes in his innings and shared the highest stand for any wicket in a 20-over game with opening partner Usman Ghani (73 off 48 balls) as they together put on 236 for the first wicket.
Mohammad Nabi then struck consecutive sixes in the final over to take Afghanistan to go past Australia’s previous record total of 263-3, against Sri Lanka in 2016.
Hazratullah, who hit the most sixes in an individual T20I inning and joint third-highest individual T20I score, got a life after being dropped by George Dockrell at the deep point on 72. He later went on to complete his maiden century for Afghanistan off just 42 deliveries.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
What a day for Asian cricket sides. Afghanistan has piled on a record 278/3 in their 20 overs against the hapless Ireland at Dehradun. This is now the highest total in all T20 cricket history!
Opener Hazratullah Zazai making a 162 in 62 balls, 11 fours, 16 sixes!😱#AFGvIRE— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 23, 2019
That will take some chasing… 👀
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 23, 2019
Incredible! https://t.co/pS88LLTHKL
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 23, 2019
WOW .. what a story Afghanistan cricket has been !! https://t.co/0y7ABSjsSO
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) February 23, 2019
🚨 WORLD RECORD 🚨
🇦🇫: 278/3 (20) vs 🇮🇪
📍: Dehradun
4⃣s: 19 😲
6⃣s: 22 🤯Highest team total in T20s ✅
Most sixes in a T20I ✅Congratulations on a record-smashing day, @ACBofficials 🙌🏻#CricketMeriJaan #AFGvIRE
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 23, 2019
Afghanistan have set the new world record for the highest score in a T20I
SCORECARD–> https://t.co/6G6a2rKk6A#AFGvIRE #IREvAFG #Cricket #TheCricketTimes pic.twitter.com/IzW54Jju6I— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 23, 2019
Hazratullah Zazai cuts loose, Afghanistan demolishes Ireland in 2nd T20I.
SCORECARD–> https://t.co/6G6a2rKk6A#AFGvIRE #IREvAFG #Cricket #TheCricketTimes pic.twitter.com/E9KGCS2CE8— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 23, 2019
And that's the world record for the highest partnership in T20Is beating Australia's Aaron Finch and Darcy Short's 223 run stand.
It has been an Absolute carnage by @zazai_3 and well supported by Usman Ghani !#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/iPIX7sqbiy— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 23, 2019
Fantastic batting performance by Afghanistan as they score a mammoth 2⃣7⃣8⃣/3⃣ in the 2nd T20 🆚 Ireland setting a record of the highest score by a team in T20Is 👏👏
How many wickets will @rashidkhan_19 & @MohammadNabi007 take to defend the target? 🤔 #OrangeArmy #AFGvIRE
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) February 23, 2019
Afghanistan today broke major two records of T20 cricket v Ireland:
1. Highest total : 278/3 (20 overs)
2. Highest stand in T20 cricket for any wicket : 236 between Zazai & Ghani for opening wicket #AFGvIRE— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 23, 2019
Afghanistan batsman Hazratullah Zazai hits:
👉Highest no. of sixes in a T20I (16)
👉3rd fastest century in a T20I (42 balls)
👉2nd highest individual score in a T20I (162* off 62 balls)As Afghanistan hits highest ever score in a T20I 278/3. #AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/Xj16wWforv
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) February 23, 2019
Most sixes by a team in a T20I
22 Afg v Ire, Dehradun, 2019
21 WI v Ind, Lauderhill, 2016
21 Ind v SL, Indore, 2017
19 Net v Ire, Sylhet, 2014#AFGvIRE— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 23, 2019
