Highest first-class batting averages, full list: Afghanistan batter closes in on all-time top 10 with century v Ireland A

Who is Bahir Shah?

The 25-year-old, who has played one Test for Afghanistan - back in 2023 against Bangladesh - has turned out in 47 first-class matches. He has scored 3,913 runs at an average of 61.14, with as many as 12 hundreds and 16 fifties.

Bahir continued his form against Ireland A at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, with another big hundred, which helped his team to a massive total. Walking out at No.3 in the first innings after the openers had added 181 for the first wicket, Bahir hit four sixes and 16 fours in his 274-ball innings that came at a strike rate of 68.25. He was eventually dismissed in the 143rd over of the innings, after guiding his team over the 500-run mark.

Afghanistan A eventually declared at 612-7 in 151 overs. No other batter from the side entered triple digits, but five others made fifties.

With the knock, Bahir pushed his average in the format over 60 and now has the 11th-highest average among batters in first-class cricket (minimum 50 innings). He is also one of 12 batters who have a first-class average over 60.

Bahir had a sensational first-class debut in 2017, making 256* in his very first innings. After two quiet innings, he scored three successive hundreds, including a fine 303*. In his first season, Bahir made 1,504 runs in 14 matches, averaging 71.61 with six tons and four fifties.

Batters with highest first-class averages (min. 50 innings)