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In the opening clash of a three-match ODI series between Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota, the Men in Green emerged victorious with a dominant performance.
Pakistan’s commanding victory was highlighted by a strong bowling performance, resulting in an emphatic win by a massive margin of 142 runs. Although the batting unit produced a disappointing performance as Pakistan only managed to 201. The standout among the batters was Imam-ul-Haq, who contributed a substantial 61 runs amidst the team’s otherwise lackluster batting display.
Babar Azam sets an unwanted record
While Pakistan secured a convincing win, it was a nightmarish outing for skipper Babar Azam, who was dismissed for a duck during his innings. Opting to bat first, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman early on, followed by Babar who was trapped LBW by Mujeeb Ur Rehman.
Also READ: Haris Rauf’s stunning 5-fer helps Pakistan steamroll Afghanistan in 1st ODI
This dismissal marked the fourth occasion that Babar has been dismissed for a duck in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with it being the second time he’s suffered this fate as captain. With this unfortunate occurrence, Babar found himself sharing an unwanted record with some illustrious names in Pakistan cricket.
The Lahore-born cricketer now shares this unwanted record with esteemed names such as the legendary Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Azhar Ali, and Younis Khan. Babar’s inclusion in this list positions him at fourth, behind Wasim Akram, who tops the list with eight duck dismissals as captain. Following closely are Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan with four each, and Misbah-ul-Haq with three.
Haris Rauf guides Pakistan’s dominance with a spectacular 5-wicket haul
Speaking about the match, fast bowler Haris Rauf spearheaded a pace onslaught against Afghanistan, delivering a career-best performance with a maiden five-wicket haul that propelled Pakistan to a resounding victory.
Rauf’s phenomenal figures of 5/18 in 6.2 overs left Afghanistan reeling, as they succumbed to a mere 59 runs in just 19.2 overs, marking their second-lowest One Day International (ODI) total.
