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Published 17:01 IST, August 25th 2023

MS Dhoni's long-standing record broken by 21-year-old Gurbaz during AFG vs PAK 2nd ODI

Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz broke Indian legend MS Dhoni's 18 year old record against Pakistan in the second ODI played in Hambantota.

Reported by: Saksham Nagar
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MS Dhoni, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, AFG vs PAK
Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Indian legend MS Dhoni (Image: AP and Twitter) | Image: self

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team secured a thrilling one-wicket victory against Afghanistan when they played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota. The Men in Green successfully chased down 301 runs in 49.5 overs and also sealed the three-match series. 

3 things you need to know 

  • Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah hit two fours in the last over and helped his team secure a one-wicket win 
  • Afghanistan registered a score of 300/5 in the first innings of the second AFG vs PAK ODI 
  • Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz played an innings of 151 runs off 151 balls in the first innings 

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz breaks MS Dhoni's 18-year-old record 

The Afghanistan cricket team, after being bundled for a score of 59 runs in the first AFG vs PAK ODI, came back strong with the bat in the second match. Afghani openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 227 runs for the first wicket. The 21-year-old Gurbaz, who played an innings of 151 runs, broke Indian legend and former skipper MS Dhoni's 18-year-old record. 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz now has the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper-batsman against Pakistan. The previous best was, MS Dhoni's 148-run innings off 123 balls against Pakistan on April 4, 2005, in Visakhapatnam, during the second ODI of the six-match series. 

Naseem Shah repeats Asia Cup 2022 heroics 

Afghanistan was able to secure a competitive first innings total and was in a position to win the match till the end of the 49th over of the Pakistan innings. The Men in Green needed 11 runs to win off the last over, and Afghani pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was bowling the last over of the Pakistan innings. While bowling the first ball to Pakistan number 10 Naseem Shah, Farooqi ran out non-striker Shadab Khan, as he was trying to leave his crease. The equation was still 11 off 6, but Pakistan had only one wicket left. 

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Naseem Shah struck a boundary off the first ball of the over, and later 4 runs were scored off the next three balls. With 2 runs needed of 2 balls, Shah hit a four towards the short third man region and at last, Pakistan took the win by one wicket. 

Updated 17:01 IST, August 25th 2023