Afghanistan youngster breaks records during scintillating ton against Pakistan

Afghanistan wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz was among multiple firsts during his run-a-ball 151 against Pakistan at Hambantota.

Afghanistan were helped to a solid total of 300/5, courtesy of a brilliant 151 from Gurbaz. This was their highest total against their regional rivals, Pakistan. 

Gurbaz's knock, which included 14 boundaries and three sixes, saw him take the Pakistan attack to the cleaners. Together with Ibrahim Zadran (80), he added 227 runs for the first wicket, Afghanistan's second-highest partnership for any wicket. 

After being bundled out for merely 59 in the first ODI, Afghanistan showed great fight with the bat in their second match in the series. The strong start from Gurbaz and Zadran was followed by a slight wobble towards the death, but Mohammed Nabi's run-a-ball 29 helped them touch 300 at the end of their innings. 

This was the highest score by an Afghanistan batter against Pakistan and was also the first-ever century by an Afghanistan player against the nation. Their previous highest individual effort was Hashmatullah Shahidi's unbeaten 97. 

This was Gurbaz's fifth ODI ton, and it came in merely 23 innings. With this he became the third fastest player to five ODI hundreds, overtaking Babar Azam (25 innings), and sitting behind the joint-first position holders, Quinton de Kock (19) and Imam-Ul-Haq (19).

His century was also the first time that a wicket-keeper scored a 150 in men's ODI against Pakistan. The previous best by a wicket-keeper was MS Dhoni's 148 at Vishakhapatnam. (ICC)