PAK vs AFG, World Cup 2023: Gurbaz-Zadran equal impressive record in onslaught vs Pakistan

Add as a preferred source on Google

Afghanistan's opening duo Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have penned a new record in their ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 match against Pakistan.

Chasing Pakistan's total of 282, Gurbaz and Zadran gave the Afghans a fantastic start. The duo were in a blistering mood as they took on the Pakistani bowlers.

Together, Gurbaz and Zadran added 130 runs for the opening wicket, and with that, they have now equalled most hundred partnerships for Afghanistan in ODIs. This was their 4th century-plus stand in ODIs, the same as Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah.

Most Century Plus Stands for Afghanistan in ODIs

4 - H Shahidi & Rahmat Shah
4 - Ibrahim Zadran & R Gurbaz
3 - Ibrahim Zadran & Rahamat Shah

Along with the record, they almost accomplished another milestone. The Afghan pair added 130 runs before Rahmanullah Gurbaz got dismissed, making them agonizingly close to breaching their highest-ever stand in World Cups.

The pair came just three runs short of Ikram Alikhil and Rahmat Shah's partnership against West Indies in the World Cup 2019. Interestingly, three of Afghanistan's four best partnerships in World Cup have come in this edition of the tournament.

Afghanistan Best Partnerships in World Cup (any wicket)

133 - Ikram Alikhil & Rahmat Shah vs WI, Leeds, 2019
130 - Ibrahim Zadran & R Gurbaz v PAK, Chennai, 2023
121 - Azmatullah Omarzai & H Shahidi vs IND, Delhi, 2023

Earlier, it was a decent effort from the Afghanistan bowlers to restrict Pakistan to 282. Noor Ahmad created record as he picked up three wickets. The Afghans are currently at the bottom of the table but a win can take them as high as 4th in the table.