APL 2018: Day Three, Round-up – Statistical Highlights

The winning streak of the chasing teams in the APL T20 came to an end as both the matches on the third day of the tournament were won by batting first sides. Mohammad Shahzad’s 31-ball 53 backed by contributions from other players saw Paktia Panthers post 184/8 in the first game. Chasing the big score, Nangarhar Legends were reduced to 51/5 by the 10th over.

But their skipper Ben Cutting led a fightback with a 39-ball 71 along with Hashmatullah Shahidi. Despite their efforts, Nangarhar ended up with only 163/6 in their 20 overs. In the second game, Balkh Legends defeated Kandahar Knights by 13 runs defending their total of 165/5 as Gulbadin Naib claimed 4/12 in his four overs.

All the major stats and numbers recorded during the third day that witnessed thrilling games:

1 – Ben Cutting became the first batsman to be dismissed via hit-wicket in an APL T20 game. He stepped on the stumps after flicking the penultimate delivery to the boundary. This was also the first time he was dismissed hit-wicket in his professional career.

2 – Number of times Ben Cutting claimed three-wicket hauls in the 104 T20 games he played before the APL T20. He took 5/28 in his first game on Saturday that included a hat-trick while he finished with the figures of 3/25 in his four overs against Paktia.

5 – The win over Kandahar Knights is the 5th consecutive win as captain in the Twenty20 format for Mohammad Nabi. The Afghanistan off-spinner won the last three matches he led Comilla Victorians in the 2017 BPL.

71 – Cutting’s 71-run knock in this game is his maiden fifty in the Twenty20 format. The Australian all-rounder had a highest individual score of 46 runs in his previous 82 T20 innings which came in the BBL 2017/18 for Brisbane Heat against Perth Scorchers.

100 – The game against Nangarhar Leopards was Mohammad Shahzad’s 100th match in the Twenty20 format. The Afghanistan keeper-batsman has scored 2963 runs in his career thus far with a century and 20 fifties.

112 – The partnership of 112 runs between Ben Cutting and Hashmatullah Shahidi is the 4th highest partnership for the 6th wicket in the Twenty20 format. The highest is 161 between Andre Russell and Kennar Lewis in this year’s CPL for Jamaica Tallawahs against Trinbago Knight Riders.

This partnership between Cutting and Shahidi is also the first ever century stand for the 6th or lower wickets in a Twenty20 match player in the UAE.

350 – Brendon McCullum completed 350 appearances in the Twenty20 format during the game against Balkh Legends. He is the 3rd player after Kieron Pollard (431) and Dwayne Bravo (410) to feature in 350 T20 matches. McCullum has thus far scored 9512 runs with seven centuries and 50 fifties.

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