Afghanistan vs Pakistan, 1st ODI Stats Review: Haris Rauf’s career-best figures, Afghanistan’s second lowest ODI score and other stats

Afganistan vs Pakistan 1st ODI. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

A steady fifty from Imam-ul-Haq followed by a fiery fifer from Haris Rauf led Pakistan to a massive 142-run win over Afghanistan to take 1-0 lead in the three match ODI series in Hambantota.

Pakistan won the toss and Babar Azam opted to bat first. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi ripped Pakistan’s top order as three out of top four batters fell inside eight overs, Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for 2 while Babar Azam got out for a duck. Mohammad Rizwan was trapped lbw by Mujeeb for 21 while Agha Salman fell after his short stay as Rashid Khan dismissed him to leave Pakistan reeling at 62/4 in 17th  over.

Imam and Iftikhar Ahmed resurrected the innings with a crucial 50-run stand before Mohammad Nabi provided the breakthrough by trapping Iftikhar after his steady 30. Imam kept the scoreboard ticking with his 17th half-century before Nabi broke another good going partnership with Shadab.

A handy 39 from Shadab helped Pakistan post a decent total as Afghans bowled out Pakistan for the first time in ODIs. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb picked three wickets while Nabi and Rashid Khan ended their spell with two wickets each.

In response to 201, Afghanistan succumbed in front of Pakistan’s pace attack as both Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi ran through their top-order to leave them 4/3. Three out of their top four were being dismissed for duck. After 7 overs, it was all about Rauf as he registered his best spell of 5/18 to dismantle Afghanistan for 59 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for Afghans with a 47-ball 18.

Meanwhile let us look at the stats and numbers from the first ODI between Afghanistan and Pakistan:

1 – Afghanistan bowled out Pakistan for the first time in ODI cricket.

5 – Pakistan have defeated Afghanistan in all five games they have played.

2 – Afghanistan were bowled out for 59, the second-lowest total in ODIs. Their lowest (58) came against Zimbabwe in Sharjah in 2016.

59 – Afghanistan’s total is the lowest total by any team against Pakistan in an ODI. Previously New Zealand scored 64 in 1956 in Sharjah.

5/18 – Haris Rauf registered his career-best spell of 5/18, bettering 4/65 vs England in Birmingham in 2021.

1 – Rauf’s figures are the best bowling figures for Pakistan against Afghanistan in ODI. He bettered Shahid Afridi’s 5/36.

1 – Mujeeb Ur Rahman became the first spinner to dismiss Babar Azam for a duck in ODIs.