Source: X/nepalcricket_
Recently, the Asia Cup’s final between Sri Lanka and India was finished in a matter of minutes. The match saw India easily beating the hosts, Sri Lanka. But was it the shortest ODI match in history? No, to everyone’s surprise, it is just the third shortest match and lasted for a mere 21.3 overs. With the game getting more and more friendlier for batters with new rules, it is hard to imagine an ODI match getting over in less than 20 overs. The shortest ODI match was played between Nepal and the USA lasting only 17.2 overs (104 balls).
Nepal asked the USA to bat first
Nepal skipper, Gyanendra Malla after winning the toss decided to bowl first and his decision was backed up beautifully by his bowlers. Right-arm fast bowler, Karan KC took the new ball and started with a maiden over in the first over of the innings. Sandeep Lamichhane picked up the first wicket in the following over by dismissing opener, Ian Holland. After bowling three overs, Karan KC was replaced by Sushan Bhari for the seventh over.
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Bhari dismissed USA’s opener and top-scorer, Xavier Marshall on his first delivery of the game. Marshall scored 16 runs in 22 balls. In the following over, Lamichhane dismissed Monank Patel and Nisarg Patel. Bhari picked up another wicket in the next over dismissing Aaron Jones. Lamichhane took the 6th wicket in the next over dismissing Timil Patel. Bhari then dismissed Cameron Stevenson and Rusty Theron in the next over. Lamicchane to end the USA innings inside the 12th over picked up the wickets of Akshay Homraj and Nosthush Kenjige. Both of the Nepaleese spinners took at least one wicket from every over from the 7th to the 12th. The American batters were bowled out for 35 runs in 12 overs.
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Nepal chased down the total in 32 balls
Defending just 35 runs, the visitors started strong with the ball at the Kirtipur Cricket Stadium in Nepal. Timil Patel started the innings with a maiden over and Nosthush Kenjige in the next over dismissed the Nepaleese openers, Gyanendra Malla and Subash Khakurel. After those two wickets, Paras Khadka and Dipendra Singh Airee took control of the innings and chased down the total easily in 5.2 overs. Khadka scored 20 runs in 12 balls hitting 3 fours and 1 six while Airee scored 15 runs in 11 balls hitting 2 fours and 1 six.
Shortest ODI Match
The Nepal-USA ODI match from 2020 has been etched in the history books for being the shortest One-Day International match. Lasting just 104 balls the match has created a record which is highly unlikely to be surmounted.
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