In a thrilling encounter in the ongoing ILT20, Desert Vipers’ wicket-keeper batter, Azam Khan, etched his name into the history books with a spectacular match-winning performance against Gulf Giants yesterday.
The action-packed game saw Azam Khan’s explosive innings shatter the record for the fastest fifty in ILT20 cricket history.
Gulf Giants faced early setbacks after being asked to bat first, losing six wickets by the 16th over, with Pakistan’s pace sensation Mohammad Amir wreaking havoc.
Amir’s brilliance on the field restricted Gulf Giants to 160 runs after seven wickets, with a magnificent four-over spell that yielded three crucial wickets at an economy of 8.50.
In the chase, Desert Vipers took control early on, thanks to Azam’s stellar performance. The key batter showcased his prowess by scoring a match-winning half-century in just 18 deliveries, a feat that surpassed the previous record held by West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who achieved the milestone in 19 deliveries.
The 25-year-old’s innings included five boundaries and four massive sixes, resulting in a striking strike-rate of 250.00.
Azam Khan lights up the #ILT20 with the fastest-ever fifty in the tournament’s history [18 balls] 💪
🔥 50 runs
🏏 20 balls
☄️ 4 Sixes
💎 5 Fours
⚡️ 250 strike-rate#ILT20 #azamkhan pic.twitter.com/kUW1XckOHx— Muhammad Ali Chughtai (@IMALI_99) February 3, 2024
His explosive innings propelled Desert Vipers to victory inside the 17th over, losing only four wickets in the process.