Mehboob Alam scored 88 off 41 balls against Saudi Arabia during the league match of the ACC Twenty20 Cup. This was his first half-century, in an of international cricket, after three years.
His last half-century was against Norway in May 26, 2008 during the World Cricket League Division 5 in Jersey.
His best score in Twenty20 cricket was 45 scored against Qatar in 2007 in Kuwait. Apart from that his knock against Saudi Arabia also brought a galore of records for the national team in Twenty20 cricket. Here are some:
Mehboob Alam with his beloved wife Sony after winning man of the match trophy against Saudi Arabia. While asked about his performance, he privately told the photojournalist that he could manage the big performance as his wife was among the spectators; and handed over the trophy to her. Photo by Bikash Karki/PhotoEverest.com
- Mehboob Alam’s 88 against Saudi Arabia is the first half-century scored by a Nepali player in international Twenty20 cricket. Earlier, Dipendra Chaudhary had scored 49 against Qatar in 2007 and against Singapore in 2009.
- Alam’s innings included six sixes which is the highest sixes scored by a Nepali players in an innings. Earlier best was two sixes in an innings. Three Nepali players, Gyanendra Malla (against Afghanistan in 2007), Alam (Against Oman in 2007) and Binod Das (against Oman in 2009) had that record.
- Alam partnered Anil Mandal for 98 runs which is the highest partnership in Twenty20, and also the best second wicket partnership in the tournament. Earlier, Paras Khadka and Malla had shared 94 runs for fourth wicket against Bahrain in 2009.
- Nepal’s 183 for 5 is the highest scored for the country in T20. Nepal’s earlier record was 159 scored chasing Bahrain’s total in 2009.