Nepal’s Anjali Chand on Monday registered the best bowling figures in T20 international across both the genders after she scalped six wickets for 0 in a game against the Maldives at the 13th South Asian Games in Pokhara.
Her exploits helped Nepal dismiss the Maldives for a paltry 16 runs, and it only took 0.5 overs for her team to register a victory by 10 wickets. Chand’s six-wicket haul came across three overs as she grabbed three in the seventh over, two in the ninth before ending Maldives’ innings in the 11th over. It only took her 2.1 overs to register the figures, which also included a hat-trick.
Nepal's Anjali Chanda bowling figure is best bowling figure in Women T20I surpassing Malaysian Mas Elysa's 6/3. Also best bowling in debut. #13SAG
— Cricket Nepal (@NepalCricket) December 2, 2019
The previous record belonged to Malaysia’s Mas Elysa, who took six for three in four overs against China earlier this year in January. Meanwhile, India’s Deepak Chahar holds the record of best T20I figures in men’s cricket after he picked six for seven in 3.2 overs against Bangladesh in Nagpur in early November. Before Chahar, the record belonged to Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis, who took six for eight.
As far as Nepal are concerned, Chand’s brilliance saw as many as eight Maldives players going out for a duck, while only two registered single-digit scores. Chand’s teammate, Karuna Bhandari picked two and the two others were run-out.
Nepal's victory in 5 balls, however, is not the quickest victory as Rwanda and Tanzania had defeated Mali in 4 balls in July 2019.
— Cricket Nepal (@NepalCricket) December 2, 2019
Coming out to bat, opener Kajal Shrestha scored 13* while the Maldives conceded four extras (2 wide, 1 leg bye and 1 no-ball). A mere seven deliveries were bowled during the second innings out of which only five were legal.
The South Asian Games cricket campaign has the likes of Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka competing for the honour in a round-robin format. The top two teams will play for the gold medal, while the bottom two teams will contest for the bronze medal.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @Nepal_Cricket
