Malaysia’s Syazrul Idrus creates history with a seven-for in T20Is

Malaysia seamer Syazrul Idrus scripted history, becoming the first bowler to claim a seven-wicket haul in men’s T20Is. He achieved the feat during the opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B 2023 match against China at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, July 26. 
 
Idrus surpassed Nigeria’s Peter Aho’s previous mark for the best bowling figures in men’s T20Is with his seven-wicket haul. The 20-year-old Aho had picked up 6 for 5 for Nigeria against Sierra Leone in 2021. India pacer Deepak Chahar and Uganda’s Dinesh Nakrani are the joint-third best for their 6 for 7. Chahar picked up six wickets against Bangladesh in 2019, while Nakrani recorded the same figures against Lesotho in 2021.

Ajantha Mendis, the former Sri Lanka spin bowler, has two six-wicket hauls to his name – 6/8 against Zimbabwe in Hambantota in September 2012 and 6/16 against Australia in Pallekele in August 2011. Few bowlers have recorded six-wicket hauls in men’s T20 internationals, including veteran Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (6/25), West Indies left-arm pacer Obed McCoy (6/17) and Australia left-arm spinner Ashton Agar (6/30), and Namibia pacer JJ Smit (6/10). 

Syazrul Idrus’ seven-for helps Malaysia beat China by eight wickets

China opted to bat first after winning the toss and were 12 for no loss in four overs. However, Syazrul Idrus bowled Wang Liuyang for three runs in the first ball of his second over. The 32-year-old then took three more wickets in the same over and finished his fifer in the next.

He took two more wickets in his final over to end with figures of 7/8. Pavandeep Singh and Vijay Unni also picked wickets as Malaysia bundled out Chinna for a paltry score of 23.

During the chase, Malaysia were at 3 for 2 after two overs after losing openers Syed Aziz and Muhammad Amir for ducks. Virandeep Singh, however, scored 19 off just 14 balls and helped his side win the match in 4.5 overs.