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- Published: June 18, 2024 09:39
New Delhi: In an astonishing feat of cricketing records, Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan has hit the quickest T20 ton (in 27 balls) to overtake the fastest century of the ‘universe boss’ which came in 30-balls. Chauhan’s century also dwarfed the record set by Jan-Nicol Loftie Eaton for the fastest T20I hundred off 33 balls.
Sahil produced this powerpack batting display against Cyprus in Episkopi on Monday. The Indian-origin batsman hit an unbeaten 144 off 41 balls which included 18 maximums. Interestingly, Chauhan has also climbed the ladder to go to the pinnacle of the most number of sixes in a men’s T20I innings.
Estonia's Sahil Chauhan smashed the record for the fastest T20I ton, with a record 18 sixes in his 141* off 41 balls 💥
👉 https://t.co/iP4A6Gi6hK pic.twitter.com/oV3JPubMwd
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 17, 2024
What happened in the match?
Estonia and Cyprus are scheduled to play a six-match bilateral series. In the first match, Estonia chased down Cyprus’ mammoth score of 195/7 in a last-over thriller. Although Chauhan’s willow was silent in the first match, the Estonian made sure that the opposition knew his hitting prowess.
Batting first, Team Cyprus scored 191 for the loss of 7 wickets. Chasing such a huge score, Estonia had the worst possible start with 9/2 inside 2 overs. But then came the ‘Indian’ storm which blew away Cyrpus’ bowlers. With an unassailable strike rate of 351.21, Chauhan was able to seal the match for the Estonians.
18 Towering maximums!
It was not only the fastest century that Chauhan had made which grabbed the headlines. The Estonian also smashed a whopping 18 sixes in the process to reach his 23-ball ton. Interestingly, this is the record number of sixes that any batsman has hit in a men’s T2oI international.
A century off just 27 balls 🤩
Estonia's Sahil Chauhan rewrites the record books with the fastest hundred in T20 history 👏
👉 https://t.co/iP4A6Ghysc pic.twitter.com/fOFp81uRUL
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 17, 2024
The previous records were held by Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan) and Finn Allen (New Zealand). Both the batsmen hit a record 16 sixes to reach the scores of 162 and 137 respectively.
Estonia is now ahead of Cyprus in the six-match series (2-0) after chasing down the opening two matches. Cyprus will face Estonia yet again for a double-header on Tuesday (i.e. the 18th of June) in Episkopi.