Czech Republic Batsman Equals Rohit Sharma & David Miller’s Record

The names Rohit Sharma and David Miller quickly come across your mind when you think of the fastest century in T20 internationals. But from this moment, you might want to remember another name that is not as well known. Czech Republic batsman Sudesh Wickramasekera equaled the record for the fastest century in international cricket, when he scored a century in 35 balls against Turkey.

If you are still wondering if this is international cricket, ICC had announced in April 2018 that all of its 105 associate members will gain T20 International status from January 2019. Hence, any T20 match played between these nations from the turn of 2019 will be an international match.

The match was a part of 2019 Romania T20 Cup or Continental Cricket Cup which consists of five teams- Austria, Luxembourg, Romania, Czech Republic, Turkey.

Apart from the fastest century, the match saw two more records disturbed. Wickramasekera’s century took Czech Rebublic to a mammoth score of 278, which is the highest score in T20I, on level with Ireland.

Czech Republic later dismissed Turkey for just 21, winning by 257 runs and setting the record for the biggest margin of victory in T20Is. The record was in fact set only a day earlier in the same tournament, also where Turkey were dismissed for 57 after being set a target of 227 by Romania. The match also saw Pavel Florin, the man who had become an internet sensation with his bowling action in the European Cricket League, make his debut for Romania.

This dismal situation of Turkey though, was later understood to be because of the unavailability of a few of their players. The players had problems obtaining their visas to travel to Romania.

“We know the problems Turkey have had and are so glad that despite those visa issues they still managed to get a team together to participate. We look forward to facing your full strength side some time soon,” the Czech Republic Cricket acknowledged Turkey on Twitter.

All the matches of the 2019 Continental Cup are being streamed live on facebook.