Pakistani batsman Fakhar Zaman smashed an unbeaten 210 against Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international match on Friday. Playing at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Fakhar Zaman shattered a number of records on his way to country’s first double hundred. But most importantly, Pakistan reached a mammoth total of 399 runs. The visiting side rode on Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq’s 304 runs, the highest partnership for the first wicket in ODI cricket. The star of the show, Fakhar Zaman became the eighth batsman to record his name in the list of double centuries in ODI cricket history. Indian batsman Rohit Sharma remains the only cricketer to hit three double tons in the 50-over format. Fakhar Zaman Hits Double Century, Remains Unbeaten on 210 Against Zimbabwe: First Pakistani to Reach The Milestone in ODIs.
Fakhar Zaman surpassed Saeed Anwar’s 194 to become Pakistan’s highest individual run-scorer in an innings. The 27-year-old opening batsman came down heavily on the African minnows in the fourth ODI match on July 20. After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first, a decision Fakhar and his opening partner, Imam-ul-Haq cashed in a great style. The duo stitched a triple-hundred partnership and in process took over Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya’s 286-run stand against England as the highest partnership for the first wicket.
Zaman took 156 deliveries for 210 runs at a strike rate of 134.61. His innings included 24 fours and five sixes. As for Imam-ul-Haq, the 22-year-old was also a centurion in the match. He made a total of 113 runs in 122 deliveries in which he hit eight fours before being removed by Wellington Masakadza, who took the lone wicket in Pakistan innings. Pakistan is leading the five-match ODI series 3-0.
Pakistan who has been one of the heavyweights in the world cricket finally managed to achieve the significant feat of hitting a double hundred, thanks to Fakhar Zaman’s fearless innings. The Indian players dominate the list of ODI centurions. The first-ever double hundred in the 50-over cricket was smashed by the ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar, and at present, it is led by another Mumbai batsman, Rohit Sharma.
List of Double Centuries in ODI Cricket With Player Name and Scores
Sr. No. | Match Date | Player Name | Team | Against | Score/Deliveries |
1. | Nov 13, 2014 | Rohit Sharma | India | Sri Lanka | 264/ 173 |
2. | Mar 21, 2015 | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | West Indies | 237*/ 163 |
3. | Dec 8, 2011 | Virender Sehwag | India | West Indies | 219/ 149 |
4. | Feb 24, 2015 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | Zimbabwe | 215/ 147 |
5. | Jul 20, 2018 | Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 210*/ 156 |
6. | Nov 2, 2013 | Rohit Sharma | India | Australia | 209/ 158 |
7. | Dec 13, 2017 | Rohit Sharma | India | Sri Lanka | 208*/ 153 |
8. | Feb 24, 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | South Africa | 200*/ 147 |
Zaman joins India’s Rohit Sharma of India (3), Virender Sehwag (1), Sachin Tendulkar (1), Martin Guptill (1), and Chris Gayle (1) as the ODI double-hundred scorers in an innings. Zaman had brought up his first century in one-day international cricket in the Champions Trophy final against India. The young batting star is making a name for himself and that’s what Pakistan would hope from Zaman especially with less than a year to go for 2019 ICC World Cup.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2018 05:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).