Top 3 batsmen with the most T20I runs in a calendar year

#1 Paul Stirling (748 runs in 2019)

Paul Stirling

Ireland’s Paul Stirling amassed 748 runs in 20 matches this year at a strike rate of 140.60 and an average of 41.55. This is now a record for the most T20I runs in a calendar year. Stirling’s feat included eight half-centuries.

His best of 91 from 50 balls came against Afghanistan in the 2nd T20I at Dehradun in February. The brilliant knock, however, was in vain as Hazratullah Zazai’s unbeaten 162 from 62 balls had set them an improbable target of 279.

Stirling began the year with 71 from 51 and 56 from 42 in the Oman Quadrangular T20I Series at Al Amerat. In the 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe at Bready, Stirling blasted an unbeaten 83 from 36 balls with six fours and seven sixes as Ireland chased down 134 with ease.

In October, Stirling registered a hat-trick of half-centuries. After notching up 59 from 47 against Nepal in the Oman Pentangular, he scored 62 from 36 against Hong Kong and 72 from 58 against UAE in the T20 World Cup Qualifier at Abu Dhabi.