Estonia batsman Sahil Chauhan smashed the fastest T20 century (in 27 balls) and hit the most sixes (18) in the format in an international game against hosts Cyprus at Episkopi on Monday. Chauhan broke Jan-Nicol Loftie Eaton’s record for the fastest T20I hundred, which came off 33 balls and lasted less than four months. It was also the fastest century in all T20s, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 30-ball innings in IPL 2013. Indian-origin Chauhan also topped the chart with most sixes in men’s T20I innings.
Two matches were scheduled for the opening day of the six-match bilateral series, with Estonia winning both.
After being dismissed for hitting the first ball in the first game, in which Estonia chased Cyprus’ 195 for 7 in the last over, Chauhan showed his batting prowess in the next match.
Batting first, Cyprus scored 191 for 7.
Estonia got off to a poor start, with both openers leaving with eight balls and just nine runs on the scoreboard.
But then came Chauhan, who was in his elements and used his long handle from the start to dismantle the Cyprus bowling attack.
He scored his runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 351.21.
During his knock of 144* off just 41 balls, Sahil smashed six boundaries and 18 sixes. Runs from him came at a strike rate of over 351.
The fastest T20I century belonged to Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who hit a 33-ball ton against Nepal in February 2024. Sahil’s effort is also the fastest century in T20I cricket.
Sahil’s hit had 18 sixes, the most by a player in a men’s T20I innings, surpassing Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai and New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who had 16 sixes each in their record hits of 162 and 137.
In the second game, Cyprus scored 191/7 in their 20 overs, with Taranjit Singh (44 off 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 scorer being Bilal Masud (21*).
Estonia now lead the six-match series at Cyrpus 2-0, having chased a target of 196 in the opening game of Monday’s doubleheader with three balls and five wickets remaining.
However, in the one against Chauhan he could not have had a more contrasting impact with the bat, dismissed for a golden duck.
The series continues with another doubleheader on Tuesday, June 18 in Episkopi.
With ANI inputs
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