Ibrahim Zadran became the first batter from his country to hit a World Cup century as Afghanistan posted 291/5 after electing to bat first in their clash against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. At 21 years and 330, Zadran became the fourth youngest World Cup centurion and batted through the innings to give the team their highest World Cup score.
Zadran stitched vital half-century stands with Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi but perhaps the most vital contribution of the innings came from the bat of Rashid Khan, who blazed an unbeaten 35 off just 18 balls to move what seemed like a middling total on a fine batting surface towards par levels.
Afghanistan have enjoyed great success in this tournament by chasing down totals, but on another muggy day in Mumbai, they chose to invert this pattern by opting to bat first. Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz began steadily, if not adventurously, to add 38 for the opening wicket before Josh Hazlewood’s short-ball ploy bore fruition. Gurbaz played a half-hearted pull and was lapped up at deep square leg.
That followed the first of three half-century stands of the innings with Zadran and Rahmat Shah putting the innings in order with a steady 83-run stand. Afghanistan’s run-rate hovered around the five-run mark without actually breaching it. When Rahmat tried to hit out against Glenn Maxwell, he holed out at long off. Zadran batted on and proceeded to stitch another sedate stand with his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made a 43-ball 26. There were moments of brilliance along the way, most notably Zadran’s upper-cut boundary to a Pat Cummins short ball.
Azmatullah Omarzai provided the first impetus for a charge with an 18-ball 22 after hitting a six with his first scoring shot. It was apparent that once Zadran got to his milestone with a streaky single (that turned into a two) off his 131st delivery that the final flourish would have to come from both ends. Rashid provided just the ballast required. It appeared as if his enterprise would be cut short when he holed out to deep cover but the third umpire ruled the Stonis catch in favour of the batter.
Rashid took apart Maxwell for a 16-run over and added two more sixes in the final over from Starc. Zadran flicked Starc for a six and muscled another pull off Cummins as Afghanistan added 75 from the final six overs to take their score close to the 300-run mark. Over to the bowlers now.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 291/5 in 50 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 129*, Rashid Khan 35*; Josh Hazlewood 2-39) vs Australia
