Kathmandu: Kathmandu Gorkhas batter Bhim Sarki has become the first Nepali cricketer to score the fastest half-century in the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

Bhim reached his fifty in just 19 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes against the Pokhara Avengers today. This is the fastest fifty by any Nepali batter in the ongoing tournament.

Previously, Harmit Singh, a foreign player for Sudurpashchim Royals, had also scored a 19-ball fifty against Kathmandu. With today’s innings, Bhim has equaled Harmit’s record.

In the previous season, Jimmy Neesham of Janakpur Bolts held the overall fastest fifty record with an 18-ball half-century.

With Bhim’s milestone, the total number of half-centuries in this edition of the NPL has risen to 29, achieved by 25 players so far.

Earlier performances this season include:
-Three half-centuries: Ravi Bopara (Chitwan Rhinos)
-Two half-centuries each: Kushal Bhurtel (Pokhara Avengers), Priyank Panchal (Karnali Yaks)

Other players who have scored a single half-century this season include:
-Binod Bhandari, Josh Brown, Harmit Singh and Ishan Pandey (Sudurpashchim Royals);
-Lokesh Bam, Martin Guptill and Basir Ahmad (Biratnagar Kings);
-Sumit Bagale, Jimmy Neesham, Adam Rossington (Pokhara Avengers);
-David Malan and Arjun Saud (Chitwan Rhinos);
-John Simpson and Ben Charlesworth (Kathmandu Gorkhas);
-Mark Watt (Karnali Yaks);
-D’Arcy Short (Lumbini);
Wayne Parnell, Sanjaya Krishnamurty, Maaz Sadaqat, Anil Shah and Aasif Sheikh.

So far, only two players—Mark Watt (Karnali) and Adam Rossington (Pokhara)—have scored centuries in the ongoing tournament.