ICC World Cup Qualifiers, 2018: Day 1 – Statistical Highlights

The Qualifiers for the 10-team 2018 World Cup began on Sunday with Scotland comfortably thumping down the favourites Afghanistan by seven wickets. Calum Macleod’s big hundred helped the Scottish team to play down the Afghan spinners. Zimbabwe registered a huge win against Nepal thanks to the blistering centuries from Sikandar Raza and Brendon Taylor. Ireland and UAE registered wins on the first day in the two rain-affected games in the Group A.

All the major stats and numbers that were recorded during the first day of 2018 World Cup Qualifiers:

2 – Scotland’s win over Afghanistan is only their 2nd win in the ODI cricket against a full member nation. They defeated Zimbabwe by 26 runs in the 2017 Hague ODI.

3 – Number of 150+ scores by Calum Macleod in the ODI format. There are only three other ODI scores of 150+ by Associate nation players.

9 – The nine sixes hit by Sikandar Raza during his 66-ball 123 are the most by any batsman in a List A innings for Zimbabwe. Brendon Taylor hit nine sixes during his 125-run knock in the recent ODI series against Afghanistan.

His nine sixes are also the joint-most by a Zimbabwe batsman in a List A innings as he equalled Elton Chigumbura’s nine sixes during his unbeaten 109 in the 2013/14 Dhaka Premier Division League.

19y 165d – Rashid Khan became the youngest captain in the history of International cricket (Men’s / Women’s). The previous youngest captain was England’s Arran Brindle at the age of 19 years and 260 days in a Women’s ODI. In Men’s Internationals and ODIs, the previous youngest captain was Bangladesh’s Rajin Saleh at the age of 20 years and 297 days.

59 – Sikandar Raza’s 59-ball century is the fastest century in List A cricket for Zimbabwe. The previous fastest ton in this format for Zimbabwe was scored by Brendon Taylor who hit a 79-ball century in the 2015 CWC.

Raza’s century is also the 2nd quickest century by a Zimbabwe player behind the 46-ball ton by Bredon Taylor. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 100* off 46 for Prime Bank Cricket Club against Kala Bagan Cricket Academy in the 2013/14 Dhaka Premier Division League.

68 – The 68 runs conceded by Rashid Khan in the nine overs he bowled in this game; the most he conceded in an ODI inning. Rashid gave away 68 runs in ten overs against Ireland in 2017. These are the only instances of him conceding at six an over in his 38-match ODI career. The one wicket he picked in this game is the lowest he took in his last 13 ODI innings.

157* – The 157-run innings by Macleod is also the 4th highest individual ODI score by a non-opener in an ODI chase behind MS Dhoni (183), Virat Kohli (183) and Herschelle Gibbs (175). His 157* is also the highest individual score for an Associate nation player while chasing in ODIs.

The 23 fours he hit in this innings are also the most by an Associate nation player in an ODI and the 2nd most in a run-chase behind David Warner’s 24 fours against South Africa in the 2016 ODI.

208 – The 208-run stand for the 3rd wicket between Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington is the highest partnership for any wicket for Scotland in ODI cricket. Gavin Hamilton and Fraser Watts put on 203 for the opening wicket against Canada in 2009.

380/6 – Zimbabwe’s total of 380 against Nepal is their highest total in the List A format surpassing 351/7 against Kenya in the 2008/09 season in Mombasa. This total is also the 2nd highest List A total in Zimbabwe behind New Zealand‘s 397/5 which they scored in the 44-over game against the hosts in the 2005 ODI Tri Series game in Bulawayo.