Estonia's Sahil Chauhan breaks Chris Gayle's record for fastest T20 century with six-hitting spree against Cyprus
Jun 17, 2024
Episkopi [Cyprus], June 17 : Batter Sahil Chauhan from Estonia broke West Indies legend Chris Gayle's record, smashing the fastest century in T20 cricket in just 27 balls during a game against Cyprus on Monday.
Gayle's record of 30-ball century, which came for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013, was broken during a bilateral series between these two teams at Episkopi, which consists of six matches.
During his knock of 144* in just 41 balls, Sahil smashed six boundaries and 18 sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of over 351.
The fastest T20I century earlier belonged to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton of Namibia, who smashed a 33-ball ton against Nepal in February 2024. Sahil's effort is also the fastest century in T20I cricket.
The knock by Sahil had 18 sixes, the most by a player in a men's T20I innings, outdoing Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai and New Zealand's Finn Allen, who had 16 sixes each in their record-breaking knocks of 162 and 137.
In the second game, Cyprus made 191/7 in their 20 overs, with Taranjit Singh (44 in 17 balls, with two fours and five sixes) being the top-scorer. Estonia chased it down in just 13 overs with six wickets in hand, with the next-highest score being Bilal Masud (21*).
Estonia now lead the six-match series in Cyrpus 2-0, having chased down a target of 196 in the opening match of Monday's double-header with three balls and five wickets remaining.
However, on that against Chauhan could not have had a more contrasting impact with the bat, dismissed for a golden duck.
The series continues with another double-header on Tuesday, June 18 in Episkopi.
