Records tumble as Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq flay Zimbabwe
bulawayo — Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan player to hit a double century in one-day internationals as Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by 244 runs to go 4-0 up in their one-day series.
Zaman smashed 210 not out from 156 deliveries, moving past the previous record for a Pakistan batsman set by Saeed Anwar with his 194 more than 21 years ago.
That wasn’t the only record to tumble. Pakistan’s openers blazed a world record 304-run stand, with Imam-ul-Haq hitting 113, the triple hundred partnership becoming Pakistan’s biggest for any wicket in ODIs.
It also broke the previous record for an opening stand in all internationals, set by Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga for Sri Lanka against England at Headingley in 2006.
When the opening partnership was eventually snapped, Asif Ali arrived at the crease and immediately went on the attack, smashing 50 from 22 deliveries to help boost
Pakistan to another record: their highest-ever total in ODIs.
Zimbabwe’s response never got going, and they were lucky to avoid a few other ignominious records when they were bowled out in the 43rd over for 155.
Zimbabwe’s 244-run defeat was their second heaviest in ODIs, and they avoided that calamity only through a 69-run sixth wicket stand between Elton Waggumbura and Donald Timpano.
But that was as good as it got for the hosts, with leg-spinner Shadab Khan taking four for 28 as Pakistan wrapped up the innings having barely broken a sweat.
Earlier, when Imam-ul-Haq was the first, and only man out, for 113, snapping the gargantuan opening partnership, Asif Ali arrived at the crease and increased the scoring rate as he mashed 50 from 22 deliveries to propel Pakistan past their previous highest ODI total, 385 against Bangladesh in 2010.
Pakistan already hold a winning 3-0 lead in the five-match series after routing the hosts in each of the first three matches.
After Pakistan captain Sarfraz
Ahmed won the toss and batted, Zaman and ul-Haq quickly vindicating his decision, taking 59 from the opening powerplay. Zaman was first to his 50 in the 18th over, from 51 deliveries, with a fierce drive through extra cover.
He was also first to his hundred, in the 32nd over. It was the third ODI century in his career and his second in this series.
Ul-Haq followed six overs later, while the world record for an opening stand fell halfway through the 40th over.
Zimbabwe eventually struck when Ul-Haq top-edged a slog sweep off Wellington Masakadza’s left-arm spin to be caught in the deep, but Ali ensured that the runs kept flowing. While Zaman raced to his double century in the 47th over, Ali smashed five fours and three sixes to reach a maiden international fifty from just 22 deliveries. —