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Philippines' 16-year-old pacer rewrote record books in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier. Kepler Lukies became the youngest men's cricketer to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is aged 16 years and 145 days.
Lukies took an economical fifer against Vanuatu in a losing cause on July 29. The previous record was held by Sierra Leone's pacer Samuel Conteh who took a fifer against Nigeria in 2021 aged at 18 years and 29 days. Before him Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan held the record. Rashid took a fifer against Ireland in 2017 when he was 18 years and 171 days old.
Defending a lowly total of 94, Lukies wreaked havoc with the new ball. His first wicket came in the third over as Clement Tommy got out for a single-digit score. In his next over, Lukies struck thrice. He got the wickets of Andrew Mansale and Joshua Rasu off consecutive deliveries. Later in the over, Vanuatu skipper Ronald Tari got out for a three-ball duck.
Lukies continued his run with the new ball and got Junior Kaltapau for a three-ball duck. Vanuatu were reduced to 40/5 in the seventh over. The young pacer conceded just 10 runs from his four overs including a maiden.
But Lukies' fifer went in vain as Nalin Nipiko and Simpson Obed's unbeaten 39-run partnership for the seventh wicket got Vanuatu over the line in the 17th over with 23 balls to spare. Apart from Lukies, only Amanpreet Shah took two wickets for Philippines.
Earlier, Philippines suffered a batting collapse. Only three batters managed to score in double digits. Philippines got all out for 94 in 18.2 overs. With a three-wicket loss against Vanuatu, Philippines are at the bottom of the table with just one win from six games. Vanuatu are placed third with two wins from four games. Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea (PNG) are at the top of points table with six wins from six games. PNG also qualified for T20 World Cup 2024 which will be hosted by USA and West Indies.
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