Airee makes history by smashing six sixes in an over
Dipendra Singh Airee, renowned as Nepal's formidable finisher, etched his name in cricketing annals by becoming the third player to strike six consecutive sixes in an international T20 match. This remarkable feat unfolded during Nepal's clash against Qatar in the ACC Men's Premier Cup in Al Amerat. Commencing the final over at 28 off 15 balls, with Nepal standing at 174 for 7, Airee unleashed a barrage of sixes against medium-pacer Kamran Khan, catapulting his score to 64 off 21 deliveries. Nepal's formidable total of 210 for 7 proved insurmountable for Qatar, as they succumbed to a 32-run defeat, bolstered by Airee's two wickets during Qatar's chase.
This extraordinary accomplishment catapulted Airee into an elite league, alongside cricketing luminaries Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard, who had previously achieved the feat in T20 internationals. Notably, Herschelle Gibbs and USA's Jaskaran Malhotra had accomplished similar milestones in the realm of ODI cricket. Despite his youth, at 24 years old, Airee boasts an impressive cricketing resume, with 60 T20Is and 55 ODIs to his credit. Interestingly, this wasn't Airee's maiden encounter with such a feat, having previously accomplished it during the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September 2023, albeit spread across two overs.
\During the Asian Games spectacle against Mongolia, Airee's prowess was on full display as he blazed his way to an astonishing 52 not out in just ten balls. This stellar performance propelled Nepal to a monumental total of 314 for 3, followed by the decimation of Mongolia's batting lineup for a mere 41 runs. Airee's nine-ball fifty shattered records, establishing him as the fastest-ever T20I half-centurion, eclipsing the previous benchmark held by stalwarts like Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, and Hazratullah Zazai, who achieved it in 12 balls.
