Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has set a new record, on 18 May 2026, by becoming the fastest bowler to take 150 wickets in One Day International cricket. He reached the milestone in just 73 matches during Nepal’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 game against Scotland at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Scotland’s Brandon McMullen, dismissed for 73 runs, became Lamichhane’s 150th ODI victim.
The record had previously belonged to Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who reached 150 ODI wickets in 77 matches. Lamichhane bettered that mark by four matches, cementing his place among the fastest wicket-takers in the history of the format.
Lamichhane’s Performance Against Scotland
Lamichhane finished with figures of 3/47 from his 10 overs in Scotland’s innings. He removed George Munsey, Brandon McMullen, and Matthew Cross as Scotland were bowled out for 194 in 39.1 overs. His economy rate of 4.70 kept pressure on Scotland’s middle order throughout his spell.
It was Lalit Rajbanshi, however, who took the Player of the Match award with a career-defining 4/32 from 8 overs, dismantling Scotland’s lower order. Together, Lamichhane and Rajbanshi formed the backbone of Nepal’s bowling attack on the day.
Nepal chased down the target of 195 with comfort. They won by 6 wickets with 71 balls to spare. Captain Rohit Paudel remained unbeaten on 74 off 98 balls, while Ishan Pandey contributed 55. The result moved Nepal to fifth in the CWC League 2 standings.
A Record Built Over Years of Consistency
This is not the first time Lamichhane has broken a world record in ODI cricket. He already holds the record for the fastest bowler to 100 ODI wickets, reaching that landmark in just 42 matches against Oman in Kirtipur on April 21, 2023.
With 151 wickets from 73 ODIs now to his name, Lamichhane stands well clear of the competition. Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and India’s Mohammed Shami are both tied at third place, having each reached 150 wickets in 80 matches. The gap between Lamichhane and the rest of the list underlines just how dominant his output has been at this level of the game.
His best figures in ODI cricket remain an exceptional 6/11, a number that reflects the kind of match-winning ability he brings to Nepal’s attack on a consistent basis.
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What This Means for Nepal Cricket
Lamichhane’s achievement puts Nepal cricket on the global map in a way that goes beyond a single match result. Nepal are competing in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, a pathway tournament toward the 2027 ODI World Cup. Every point and every performance in this competition carries direct consequences for the country’s World Cup qualification hopes.
Records of this nature, held against names like Mitchell Starc and Rashid Khan, tell a broader story about how Nepal’s cricket has developed. Lamichhane has been central to that development for several years, and this milestone is a reflection of sustained excellence rather than a single good run of form.
Nepal’s next match in the League 2 will be against the United States on May 22, and Lamichhane is likely to be the mainstay of their bowling department throughout the tournament.
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