After collapsing for a paltry 59 in the first ODI, Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz entered the record books with a 151-run knock in the second ODI on August 24. Gurbaz became the first wicketkeeper-batter to score 150 in ODIs against Pakistan.
The wicketkeeper-batter also became the fifth opener to score 150 or more runs in an ODI against Pakistan. The list is topped by David Warner (179) followed by Alex Hales (171), Aaron Finch (153 not out), and Brian Lara (153).
The 21-year-old’s 151-run knock is the second-highest individual score by an Afghan batter in the second ODI. The record belongs to another Afghan opener, Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 162 against Sri Lanka in November 2022.
Gurbaz's marvelous innings of 151 is the 13th-highest score by a wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs. On Sri Lankan soil, only Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara has a better score while keeping wickets. He scored 169 against Bangladesh in August 2014.
Gurbaz shared a 227-run opening partnership with Zadran. This is the second-highest opening partnership against Pakistan in the format. In 2017, Warner and Travis Head shared a 284-run partnership.
The young wicketkeeper played a total of 151 balls. He hit 14 fours and three sixes in the innings. He lost his wicket to left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi in the 45th over. His opening partner Zadran scored 80 runs from 101 balls including six fours and two sixes. Later on, contributions from Mohammad Nabi and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi helped Afghanistan post 300/5 on the board.
“We just hoped to play positive (after last match's defeat), we expected this from our batters. We wanted to bat well and post a good total. I have been batting with Ibrahim Zadran since a long time. We were discussing throughout our partnership to bat with a plan. I was set but wasn't able to hit boundaries against spinners, so I am pretty confident we can defend this total,” Gurbaz told the broadcasters during the innings break.
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