Hong Kong pacer matches Lockie Ferguson's elite T20I record: Details
Ayush Shukla, a 21-year-old right-arm medium pacer from Hong Kong, has matched the record set by New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson for bowling four consecutive maiden overs in T20Is. This remarkable achievement took place during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A match against Mongolia in Kuala Lumpur. The match was held on Saturday, August 31, at the Bayuemas Oval.
Shukla's impressive performance leads to victory
Shukla's exceptional performance against the Mongolia National Cricket Team saw him take one wicket and return with figures of 4-4-0-1. He is now the first player from Asia, and third bowler globally, to bowl four consecutive maiden overs in a T20I match. His spell was instrumental in Hong Kong's victory over Mongolia, as they chased down a target of just 18 runs in 1.4 overs for the loss of one wicket.
Shukla's spell restricts Mongolia to 17 runs
Shukla's spell was a key factor in restricting the Mongolia National Cricket Team to just 17 runs in 14.2 overs. His consistent performance from the start of the match, where he took a wicket on the last ball of his first over, set the tone for Hong Kong's dominant win. This victory has put Hong Kong at the top of the points table in ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A matches.
Shukla joins elite list of bowlers
With his four maiden overs, Shukla has joined an elite list of bowlers including Saad Bin Zafar and Lockie Ferguson. Canada's skipper, Zafar, was the first to achieve this feat against Panama in 2021. Meanwhile, Ferguson matched this record in a game against Papua New Guinea during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
