Published: Jul 20, 2018, 04:29 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 20, 2018, 09:10 PM (IST)
Fakhar Zamam has become Pakistan’s first double-centurion in ODI cricket, eclipsing Saeed Anwar’s 21-year-old mark of 194 with a stroke-filled 210* against Zimbabwe during the fourth ODI in Bulawayo.
ALSO READ: Fakhar Zaman sixth batsman to smash 200 in ODIs
The Pakistan opener’s historic innings came off 156 deliveries, featured 24 fours and five sixes and helped fashion the first 300-run opening stand in ODI cricket, alongside Imam-ul-Haq (113) with whom he put on 304 in 42 overs on Friday. This whirlwind partnership also pushed Pakistan to their highest ODI total of 399/1, surpassing the 385/7 scored against Bangladesh in 2010.
ALSO READ: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq in record 304-run opening stand
Overall, Zaman is the sixth male batsman in ODI cricket to touch 200, after Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill. His 210* slots in as the fifth highest score in ODI cricket after Rohit’s 264, Guptill’s 237*, Sehwag’s 219 and Gayle’s 215.
Fakhar Zaman!!!You played a wonderful knock
201* Not Out..
First Pakistani to score double ton.imam-ul-haq and asif also played well.Pakistan zindabad— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) July 20, 2018
The milestone of 200 came up off Zaman’s 148th delivery faced with a slash over the covers that beat the boundary rider, and was celebrated by a glance skywards and a kiss of the helmet in front of a standing Pakistan dressing room.
Anwar had stunned India in 1997 by scoring the highest score by a batsman in ODIs, 194, in Chennai during the Independence Cup.
Zaman, 28, has enjoyed a bumper tour of Zimbabwe. During the T20I tri-series also featuring Australia, he was Player of the Tournament for scoring 278 runs in five innings as Pakistan won the title. In four ODIs with Zimbabwe, he has reeled of scores of 60, 117*, 43* and now 210*. Stunningly, this double-century has come in his 17th ODI.
Zaman and Imam’s 304-run stand obliterated the previous highest opening partnership of 286 between Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga against England in 2006.
