Cricket is a game of numbers, but every so often, a player produces a statistical anomaly that seems impossible. On the burgeoning international stage of Associate Cricket , Bhutanese left-arm spinner Sonam Yeshey has done exactly that, becoming the first bowler in the history of T20 International (T20I) cricket to claim eight wickets in a single innings .
Playing against Myanmar in Gelephu, Yeshey turned a modest defense into a historic rout, finishing with the extraterrestrial figures of 4-1-7-8.
Anatomy of an 8-Wicket Masterclass
Defending a total of 127, Bhutan relied on Yeshey to provide breakthroughs. What followed was not just a breakthrough, but a complete demolition of the Myanmar batting lineup, In the 3rd over of the innings, Yeshey struck with his very first delivery to remove Pyae Phyo Wai. By the end of the over, both Ko Ko Lin Thu and captain Htet Lin Aung had also fallen.
Yeshey maintained a relentless line, removing Khin Aye in the 5th over before returning in the 7th to dismiss Htet Lin Oo and Thuya Aung.
In his final over, he removed Kaung Htet Kyaw and Zwe Htet Paing to complete the first-ever eight-wicket haul, leaving Myanmar skittled for just 45 runs in 9.2 overs.
Beyond the 7-Wicket Barrier
Before Yeshey’s historic feat, the “seven-wicket haul” was considered the ultimate ceiling in the T20 format. Only a handful of bowlers across all levels of professional T20 cricket (International, Domestic, and Franchise) had ever reached that mark:
| Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonam Yeshey | 8/7 | Bhutan | Myanmar | 2025 |
| Syazrul Idrus | 7/8 | Malaysia | China | 2023 |
| Colin Ackermann | 7/18 | Leicestershire | Birmingham Bears | 2019 |
| Taskin Ahmed | 7/19 | Dhaka Capital | Durbar Rajshahi | 2025 |
| Ali Dawood | 7/19 | Bahrain | Bhutan | 2025 |
It is poetic that Yeshey’s record comes just months after Ali Dawood took a seven-fer against Bhutan. Yeshey has not only redeemed his nation’s pride but has set a benchmark that may not be broken for decades.