Pakistan produced an innings and match full of records in their fourth ODI against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
On their way to beating the hosts by 244 runs – their second biggest ODI win ever – Pakistan’s batsmen led an historic assault on the Zimbabwe bowling.
Opener Fakhar Zaman batted for the entire innings to end with 210 from just 156 deliveries.
In doing so, Zaman became the first Pakistani to hit an ODI double-century, breezing past the previous top ODI individual score of 194 by Saeed Anwar recorded some 21 years ago against India. Zaman’s 28 boundaries, consisting of 24 fours and five sixes, also beat Anwar’s record for most boundaries in an ODI innings for Pakistan (27).
Zaman is also now the least-experienced ODI double-centurion by some way, only receiving his 17th cap in this match. Before him, India batsman Rohit Sharma managed a double ton after 103 ODI appearances.
Alongside Imam ul-Haq, his opening partner who hit 113, Zaman is now also a part of the highest ever ODI opening partnership. When ul-Haq was caught off Hamilton Masakadza the Pakistan pair had already made 304, beating Sri Lankan batsmen Sanath Jaysuriya and Upal Tharanga’s partnership of 286 against England in 2006.
The partnership is of course also now Pakistan’s highest ever ODI partnership. Inzamam ul-Haq and Aamir Sohail previously shared that record for 24 years with their partnership of 263 against New Zealand.
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When Imam departed, Asif Ali joined the mayhem. Ali raced to an unbeaten 50 from only 22 balls as he and Zaman pushed Pakistan’s total one run shy of 400 at 399/1, the highest ODI total managed by a Pakistan team.
400 looked an unassailable target for Zimbabwe’s batting line-up and was proved to be as Pakistan dismissed them for 155. Pakistan lead the ODI series 4-0 with a final ODI to be played in Bulawayo on Sunday.
