Following story was posted prior to the beginning of fifth ODI between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on July 22, 2018.
One more World Record is on the line as Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman only requires 20 runs to become the fastest batsman worldwide to reach 1000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
If Fakhzar Zaman succeeds to reach the milestone in his 18 ODI innings against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Sunday, he will surpass five batsmen including Viv Richards (West Indies), Kevin Pietersen (England), Jonathan Trott (England), Quinton de Kock (South Africa) and Babar Azam (Pakistan) who completed their respective 1000 runs in 21 ODI innings each.
Earlier on July 20, Fakhar Zaman’s special knock of 210 runs broke multiple records at individual as well as collective levels. He became the first Pakistani and worldwide sixth batsman to hit a double century in an ODI.
Not only it took least matches of Fakhar Zaman to hit a double century as he did it in his 17th ODI innings off 148 balls but overall he was the fourth fastest batsman in terms of least balls played to score 200 after Chris Gayle – 138 balls, Virender Sehwag – 140 balls, and Sachin Tendulkar – 147 balls.
In addition, Fakhar Zaman hit 28 boundaries in his record-breaking innings, which also let him to be crowned as the first Pakistan batsman to make it happen. Prior to him, Saeed Anwar had that honour after hitting 27 boundaries in an ODI innings.
Apart from individual records, Fakhar Zaman along with Imam-ul-Haq also registered the highest opening partnership in ODI history, beating Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga’s 286-run partnership which they had made against England in Leeds in 2006.
Likewise, 399 runs for one – which Pakistan scored while batting first in fourth ODI at Bulawayo – was the highest total by them in their ODI history. While it terms of the highest ODI total by any team for the loss of just one wicket, it also broke the previous record of 362 for one which had been made by India against Australia at Jaipur in 2013.
The fifth ODI between Pakistan and Zimbabwe to be played today will also bring Pakistan’s tour to Zimbabwe to an end with a very much likely whitewash.
