Nepalese 16-year-old breaks long-standing Sachin Tendulkar record

Rohit Paudel has become the youngest male cricketer to score an international 50 at the age of 16 years and 146 days, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s previous mark.

Paudel stroked a 58-ball 55 as Nepal, one of cricket’s rising forces, thrashed the United Arab Emirates by 145 runs in the second ODI in Dubai on Saturday.

Tendulkar scored his maiden Test 50 at 16 years and 213 days old in 1989 against Pakistan.

The Nepalese player also became the youngest man to score a one-day international half-century, beating Shahid Afridi, who smashed a 37-ball century in an incredible first innings against Sri Lanka aged 16 and 217 days.

Fellow teenager, 18-year-old Sandeep Lamichhane, claimed 4-24 with his leg-spin as Nepal bowled out their hosts for just 97 in an ill-fated chase of 243 to win.

Paudel was, however, a fair way off the record for all internationals, with South African women’s player Johmari Logtenburg having scored fifties in both Test and ODI cricket as a 14-year-old.