We thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime event when Yuvraj Singh scored the fastest fifty off just 12 balls in World T20 2007. Then Chris Gayle did it in 2016 and Hazratullah Zazai this year. But this takes the whole bakery. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad has redefined the scope of the game with his 16-ball 74.
We did not even have such luck in book cricket. A strike rate of 462.50 is not even easy in gully cricket. His innings had 6 fours and 8 sixes. And in case you think that the bowlers were not of international standards, we have some news for you. The bowlers were Mohammad Nawaz, Jofra Archer, Thisara Perera and Fawad Ahmed.
Here’s a look at the mind-boggling innings:
Oh, and did we mention that the team chased down a target of 96 runs in just 4 overs. An economy rate of 24 runs per over. They scored runs at breakneck speed. Shahzad’s innings was destructive to an extent that it overshadowed Brendon McCullum’s heroics. McCullum scored 21 runs off just 8 balls, keeping the runs coming from the other end. If only the score was a bit bigger, he would have scored the fastest 100 as well.
Twitterverse as surprised as everyone by Shahzad’s brutal massacre, flashing his blade at anything and everything:
Mohammad Shahzad hits 76* off 16 deliveries.
His bat: pic.twitter.com/VxHLmgu6y1
— mr_swagi (@mr_rajp00t) November 21, 2018
Not a care in the world
“I don’t like Yo-Yo test. Some people score 20 in the test still they can’t hit a six. I do not care about Yo-Yo test,” Mohammad Shahzad after his 74 off 16 balls innings in T10. #Legend
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 21, 2018
The best one
When life gives you Shahzad, make him Mohammad Shahzad not Ahmed Shahzad
— (@lemezohaib) November 21, 2018
Even Dhoni wouldn’t have matched this
when ur inspiration is @msdhoni …
#MohammadShahzad u beauty— Gaurav Rajput (@tharki_hu) November 22, 2018
A brutal world indeed
The world of being a T10 bowler when Mohammad Shahzad gets going #T10League pic.twitter.com/wAY6YkTRbh
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) November 21, 2018
When Shahzad skips lunch, he does this
The Man of the Moment, Mohammad Shahzad shares his thoughts on a day where he was at his destructive best and find out what was the secret to his success tonight? #T10League pic.twitter.com/KcvsrIEuKh
— T10 League (@T10League) November 21, 2018
Their loss
Mohammad Shahzad sadly No one Selected Him In #PSLDraft2018
He would Be Lethal . #T10League— Ahmed dada (@_iamAhmedDaDa) November 21, 2018
Just sign him already
IPL gig for Mohammad Shahzad?? #InsaneHitting
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 21, 2018
Records are meant to be broken
Few cricketers have achieved what Mohammad Shahzad has done tonight.
Records tumbled, crashed and burned while he went about setting new ones. #T10League
— Modaser Sadat (@Modaser_Sadat1) November 21, 2018
The opposite team captain Shane Watson was stunned by the never-seen-before batting display. He tried four best bowlers of his bowling attack and all of them failed. A target of 95 runs in 10 overs set by Sindhis did not look threatening but the Rajputs openers made a mockery of it.
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