Only instances of a century and a fifer in the same innings
Not often a batter scores a century in a Twenty20 match. It’s some achievement for a player to reach the three-figure mark in a 20-over game. The same is for the bowlers who get only 24 deliveries to try and claim a five-wicket haul. A hundred and a five-for by the opposition pair is one of the rarest feats that can take place in a particular game as only three instances have occurred to date and they feature in this article.
Let’s take a look at the only three instances when an opponent pair scored a ton and picked up a five-wicket haul in T20 cricket:
1. Karun Nair and V Athisayaraj Davidson
In the South Zone match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in 2018, Karun Nair and V Athisayaraj Davidson became the first opponent pair to smash a century and pick a five-for in a T20 game. Nair, who opened the innings, slammed 111 off 52 with eight fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 213.46 as Karnataka posted 179/9. Davidson picked up figures of 5/30 in three overs for Tamil Nadu. In the end, Karnataka won the contest by 78 runs.
2. Saber Zakhil and Aqib Iqbal
The second instance took place in a T20 international match between Belgium and Austria in 2021. Saber Zakhil, who batted at no. eight, slammed an unbeaten 100 off just 47 with five fours and eight maximums at a strike rate of 212.76. Courtesy of his knock, Belgium reached a total of 146/8 in 20 overs. Right-arm medium bowler Aqib Iqbal delivered a sensational spell of five wickets for just five runs in four overs. Belgium defeated Australia by 12 runs (DLS Method).
3. Shubman Gill and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The latest instance occurred in Match No. 62 between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The Titans batted first and Gill scored his maiden IPL hundred. He slammed 101 off 58 with 13 fours and a six and at a strike rate of 174.13 as his side reached 188/9. In the same innings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar snared five scalps for 30 runs in his four-over spell. GT sealed the deal by 34 runs with Gill winning the Player of the Match award.
