Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai shines with maiden ODI hundred: Stats
Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai showed great determination during his knock against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Pallekele. Omarzai, who had smashed four fifties in ODI cricket, finally scored his maiden century in this format. His 115-ball 149* was studded with 13 boundaries and six maximums. Despite his knock, Afghanistan were able to compile 339/6 and fell short by 42 runs.
500 runs for Omarzai in ODI cricket
With this exceptional knock, Omarzai completed 500 (639) runs from 23 matches at an average of 58.09. He has hammered four fifties to go alongside his maiden ODI century. Omarzai's previous highest score of 97* came against South Africa in the 2023 World Cup. With the ball, he has claimed 13 wickets in this format. Omarzai returned with two wickets against SL.
A swashbuckling knock from Omarzai
Omarzai was out in the middle when Afghanistan were 19/3. He added 28 runs with Gulbadin Naib before the latter was also dismissed. He then stitched a sensational 242-run partnership along with Mohammad Nabi. The two batters complimented each other and chalked out a fine strategy against SL's bowlers. After Nabi's departure, Omarzai added 48 runs with Ikram Alikhil. He was unbeaten at 149.
Third-highest individual score for Afghanistan
Omarzai's 149* is the third-highest individual score for the Afghans in ODI cricket. The young all-rounder surpassed Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 145 against Bangladesh in 2023. However, his score is still behind the likes of Ibrahim Zadran's 164 versus SL (2022) and Gurbaz's 151 against Pakistan (2023).
Second-highest partnership for Afghanistan in ODIs
Nabi and Omarzai were exceptional as they added 242 runs together for the sixth wicket. As per ESPNcricinfo, they registered the second-highest partnership for Afghanistan in ODI cricket. Nabi and Omarzai's stand was only behind Gurbaz and Zadran's 256-run opening stand against Bangladesh in 2023. Gurbaz and Ibrahim's 227-run partnership against Pakistan in Hambantota in 2023 is in third position.
Second-highest sixth-wicket partnership in ODI cricket
Nabi and Omarzai's 242-run partnership pulled Afghanistan out of danger. As per ESPNcricinfo, they have registered the second-highest sixth-wicket partnership in ODIs. The two all-rounders were only behind the New Zealand duo of Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi's 267-run stand against Sri Lanka in 2015. Mahela Jayawardene and MS Dhoni stitched a 218-run stand representing Asia XI against the World XI (2007).
Here is the match summary
Sri Lanka reached a massive total of 381/3 courtesy of a historic 210* from Pathum Nissanka and a fifty from Avishka Fernando. Fareed Ahmad starred for Afghanistan with 2/79. In reply, Afghanistan were once tottering at 55/5 but a 242-run stand between Nabi and Omarzai helped them reach 339/6. Afghanistan lost by 42 runs but gave a good fight. Pramod Madushan claimed 4/75.