Cricket is a team game but often players pull off a win single-handedly and when they do, they end up etching their name in history books. Zeeshan Kukikhel played the innings of his life to help Hungary chase down a massive target of 197 against Austria at Seebarn Cricket Ground on June 5. In doing so, he registered the highest score in a T20I run chase.
Lewis’ record broken
Zeeshan’s match-winning 137 broke West Indies opener Evin Lewis’ record for highest score while batting second in a T20I. Lewis scored an unbeaten 125 against India in 2017. He is followed by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (122 vs South Africa in 2021), Hong Kong's Babar Hayat (122 vs Oman in 2016) and South Africa's Richard Levi (117 not out vs New Zealand in 2012).
Bossing the run chase
In the run chase of 197, Zeeshan led the charge as his opening batter played second fiddle. The opener knew that he had to take the attack to opposition and he succeeded. He took on Austria new ball bowlers Ahsan Yousuf and Sahel Zadran, whacking them in all parts of the ground.
The first-wicket partnership was of 97 runs from 8.2 overs. Satyadeep Ashwathnarayana scored just 18 runs from 22 deliveries. The wicket of wicketkeeper Abhishek Stan Ahuja for a five-ball duck did not help Zeeshan. Also, Harshvardhan Mandhyan scoring just three runs from eight deliveries meant that Zeeshan would have to do it alone.
Soon enough, he reached his maiden T20I century. Even after breaching the three figures, the job was far from finished. He continued the onslaught. At one point, it looked like the 36-year-old will become the fourth batter to 150 in T20I cricket. But, the hard hitter got out in the 16th over of the run chase when Hungary needed 22 runs from 26 deliveries.
Before getting bowled by Itibarshah Deedar, he had scored 137 runs from 49 deliveries including seven fours and 15 sixes. He came close to breaking Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai's record of 16 sixes in a single innings. He batted at a phenomenal strike rate of 279.59.
After his wicket, Hungary had a few hiccups but skipper Ali Farasat held his nerves and finished the run chase with one over to spare.
It was a big win for Hungary as in the first two T20Is, they were bundled out for a score below 100.
