Ibrahim Zadran’s excellent run in the 50-over format continued as he registered his third hundred in eight innings, and his second in the series against Sri Lanka, to help Afghanistan post 313/8 in the third ODI in Pallekele on Wednesday (November 30). Ibrahim (162 off 138) surpassed Mohammad Shahzad’s 131* against Zimbabwe to register the highest individual score for Afghanistan in ODIs and was also involved in a record fourth wicket stand with Najibullah Zadran (77) to power his side to a formidable total.
After Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi opted to bat first, the visitors suffered an early setback as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed by Kasun Rajitha, chopping one onto the stumps. A promising 41-run stand involving Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim was cut short by Rajitha with the dismissal of the former while Shahidi did not have a productive stay either, leaving Afghanistan precariously placed at 57/3 in the 15th over.
Ibrahim joined forces with Najibullah to steady the Afghanistan innings. It was a well-paced partnership with the two batters rotating the strike well while Ibrahim also found the fence regularly. Wanindu Hasaranga came under attack from Ibrahim, who cleared the fence a couple of times.
The century stand was raised off 106 deliveries with Najibullah crossing fifty while Ibrahim closed in on yet another ton. Zadran’s epic knock of 162 came off a mere 138 balls and included 15 fours and four sixes. The opener completed his hundred in the 39th over, getting to it off 100 balls before smashing 58 runs off his next 38 balls.
The opener broke the record for the highest individual score by an Afghanistan player in ODIs, beating Mohammad Shahzad’s unbeaten 131 against Zimbabwe in 2015. Having struck a four and a six off Hasaranga in the 38th over, Najibullah found Dasun Shanaka take a diving catch at mid-wicket which ended his innings and the partnership worth 154, a record for the fourth wicket for Afghanistan.
Ibrahim then brought up his hundred with a boundary off Asitha Fernando in the 39th over and followed it up with two more fours in the over. Mohammad Nabi also struck a couple of fours before falling to Hasaranga in the 42nd over. Sri Lanka managed to dry up the boundaries for a few overs, with Afghanistan going without one from 41.3 until the start of the 47th over. Gulbadin Naib was also run out during this phase.
Ibrahim and Rashid Khan broke the shackles with a couple of boundaries off Rajitha and the former also struck a six off Maheesh Theekshana in the 48th. Ibrahim brought up a 132-ball 150, becoming the first Afghanistan player to reach the landmark and also the first to score 150 in Pallekele. Ibrahim, who finished with 14 fours and 4 sixes, surpassed Gautam Gambhir (150) to register the highest score as an opener against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, before falling off the last ball.