West Indies enters the record books against Afghanistan; Azmatullah Omarzai concedes 36 runs in an over

The West Indies cricket team made history against the Afghanistan cricket team in the 40th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Rovman Powell-led team recorded the highest powerplay score in the history of the Men's T20 World Cup, surpassing the Netherlands team's 10-year-old record.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan opted to bowl first at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, on Tuesday, June 18 (India time). Azmatullah provided an early breakthrough for his team by dismissing Brandon King, who scored 7 runs off 6 balls, in the second over of the West Indies innings.

Azmatullah Omarzai Equals Unwanted T20I Record

Azmatullah Omarzai achieved an unwanted record with the ball in the Group C match. The all-rounder registered the joint most expensive over in T20 World Cup history. Omarzai gave away 36 runs in the fourth over, including three sixes, three fours, a no-ball, and an additional five runs from wides during the free-hit.

Omarzai became the second Afghanistan bowler to concede 36 runs in a T20I over. Karim Janat earlier conceded 36 runs in an over in a T20I against India. Omarzai's over marked the fifth instance of 36 runs being scored in a single over in T20 cricket history.

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Most runs in an over in T20Is

36 - Yuvraj Singh (IND) vs Stuart Broad (ENG), Durban, 2007

36 - Kieron Pollard (WI) vs Akila Dananjaya (SL), Coolidge, 2021

36 - Rohit Sharma & Rinku Singh (IND) vs Karim Janat (AFG), Bengaluru, 2024

36 - Dipendra Singh Airee (NEP) vs Kamran Khan (QAT), Al Amerat, 2024

36 - Nicholas Pooran & Johnson Charles (WI) vs Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG), St. Lucia, 2024

West Indies Breaks Netherlands 10-Year-Old Record

The West Indies set a new record for the highest powerplay score in T20 World Cups. The Caribbean side scored 92 runs for the loss of one wicket in the first six overs. The home team surpassed the previous record of 91/1 set by the Netherlands against Ireland in 2014 at the Sylhet International Stadium in Bangladesh.

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England holds the third-highest powerplay score in T20 World Cups. England hammered 89 runs against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2016. In that same match, South Africa managed to score 83 runs. India also scored 83 runs against Scotland at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in 2021.

Highest Powerplay Score In T20 World Cup

92/1 - WI vs AFG (St Lucia, 2024)

91/1 - NED vs IRE (Sylhet, 2014)

89/3 - ENG vs SA (Mumbai, 2016)

83/0 - SA vs ENG (Mumbai, 2016)

82/2 - IND vs SCO (Dubai, 2021)

Nicholas Pooran surpassed Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes by a West Indies batter in T20Is. Pooran has smashed 128 sixes in T20I cricket, compared to Gayle's 124. The left-hander was run out on 98 runs off 53 balls as the West Indies posted a commanding total of 218/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

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