Peter Aho, a bowler for Nigeria’s Yellow Greens cricket team, still feels the thrill two years after setting the Guinness World Record. He set the landmark in a bilateral series against Sierra Leone in Lagos in 2021, completely shredding the opposition’s batting order with a hat-trick and producing statistics of 3.4-1-5-6. This feat earned him a place among the greats and gave Nigeria victory in the series.
Reflecting on this achievement, Aho revealed that he was not aware that he had made the record until after the fact, when the team’s coach, Asanka Gurusinha, asked about the best bowling figures in the world. The team’s analysts checked ESPN and found that Aho was at the top, triggering celebrations among the team.
Aho’s record of six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs against Sierra Leone is the best bowling figures recorded in T20is. The India pacer Deepak Chahar and Ugandan bowler Dinesh Nakrani follow closely at number two and three, respectively.
Aho is a 200-level student of Maritime Engineering at the University of Benin, Edo State, but his Guinness World Record feat could lead to bigger opportunities in the sport. It has given him recognition that could translate to government recognition and opportunities to play for professional teams outside Nigeria.
“For the records, I will say it has given me respect and has made me want to do better to keep the standards high,” Aho said, looking ahead to what the future holds. “And I feel I would have better opportunities.”
Aho’s Guinness World Record has shown that Nigerian cricket has players of exceptional talent who can compete with the best in the world. As Nigeria’s cricket continues to grow, more achievements could be on the horizon.
