Dipendra Singh Airee emulated former national team skipper Paras Khadka to become Nepal’s only batsman with both Twenty20 International and One Day International centuries on Saturday.
The middle order mainstay smashed a whirlwind 57-ball 110 not out against Malaysia in a Tri-Nation Twenty20 International Series leading his side to a huge 85-run victory at the TU Cricket Grounds.
Dipendra is now the only other batsman after former captain Paras to have scored international centuries in both white ball cricket. His maiden ODI century had come against Papua New Guinea prior to the series. Paras had scored ODI century against the UAE and T20I ton against Singapore.
Nepal’s mammoth 223-5 revolved around Dipendra as he shared 96 runs for the third wicket with Rohit Kumar Paudel who notched up a 34-ball 51 and 59 runs for the fifth wicket with Aadil Ansari (14).
While batting on 90 in the final over, Dipendra smashed three consecutive sixes against Syed Aziz reaching milestone in style. His innings included 10 fours and six sixes.
Malaysian innings folded for a 138 in 19.4 overs after skipper Sandeep Lamichhane took 3-19, while Dipendra and Kamal Singh Airee also had two scalps apiece.
