This Day That Year: Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan player to score a double century in ODIs
The explosive left-handed batsman Fakhar Zaman registered
his highest ODI score during the 4th One-day international match against
Zimbabwe on 20th July 2018.
Pakistani captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to
bat first. Fakhar Zaman looked in decent touch right from word go playing with
positive intent. He and Imam scored 59 runs in the first 10 overs.
Fakhar made the batting look easy and completed his
half-century off 51 balls. It was an excellent batting display by left-handed the batsman who showed class against a weakened Zimbabwean bowling line up. On the
other hand, Imam also reached fifty off 69 balls. Zaman looked in complete
control and decimated the host's bowling line up.
After a superb century in the finals of Champions Trophy
2017, Fakhar Zaman struggled for runs against top quality bowling line up. He reached
his century off 92 balls and continued to dominate the Zimbabwe attack lacking
venom. Zaman upped the ante with his stroke play as he reached his 150 off 115
balls.
The Pakistani openers looked in complete control as Imam
also reached his century. Zimbabwe finally got the breakthrough dismissing Imam
for 113. Both added a record 304 runs for the opening wicket. It was the first
300 runs stand for the opening wicket in ODIs. Asif Ali joined in with Fakhar
and decimated the Zimbabwe bowling line up.
Fakhar achieved the feat of scoring a double century of 148
balls and remained not out on 210 off 156 balls. His record-breaking innings
included 24 fours and 5 sixes. Pakistan scored a massive total of 399 for 1 in 50
overs. Saeed Anwar was the top scorer for Pakistan in ODIs with 194 against
India.
It was a steep target for Zimbabwe as they were bowled out
for 155 in 42.4 overs. For his 210*, Fakhar Zaman was named the man of the
match.
Fakhar also joined the list of elite players to score double
centuries in ODIs. He was in serious form during the 5 match series.
The left-handed explosive opener made his ODI debut against
South Africa during the Champions Trophy 2017. He has played so far 46 Test
matches (46 innings) and scored 1958 runs with a career-best score of 210*.
Fakhar Zaman has been struggling for form but the Pakistani
team persisting with him. If he needs to stay in the team, his technique against
top-quality bowling in swinging conditions must improve.
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| This Day That Year: Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan batsman to score a double century in ODIs |
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