World Cup 2015: Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad shine as records stumble

World Cup 2015: Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad shine as records stumble: Pakistan had a game on Sunday and were again in action today against a much weaker side, UAE. UAE won the toss and decided to field first which looked like a good decision when Nasir Jamshed again failed to impress and was caught at mid-wicket attempting the pull shot. Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail then added a record partnership for Pakistan which provided enough stability for late comers Misbah, Sohaib and Shahid Afridi to take Pakistan to a record total of 339/6.

UAE floundered right from the start of their chase when they were reduced to 25/3. Khurram Khan and Shaiman tried to sail a sunken ship but their effort was no use against the likes of Sohail Khan, Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz. Pakistan collected an easy victory by 129 runs and moved up their group table.

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Here are some the records and stats from the today’s game:

499* – Number of international matches Shahid Afridi has been a part of, joint most for a player from Pakistan. Inzamam-ul-Haq starred in as many but this number is well short of the overall leader Sachin Tendulkar who participated in 664 international games.

Older, Oldest– This game marked the first instance in ODI History when captains from both the sides were older than 40.

4^th Best– 160 runs added by Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail for the 2^nd wicket is Pakistan’s forth best partnership for any wicket in world cup matches, 3^rd best for 2^nd wicket in world cup matches.

16 years of wait– The 160 run effort by Shehzad/Haris was Pakistan’s first 150-run partnership in world cup matches since Saeed Anwar/Wajahatullah Wasti added a record 194 for the 1^st wicket against New Zealand in 1999.

Quick Link : Top 10 batsmen with highest strike rates in ODIs (8000 plus runs)

A Century Drought– 12 games including the one today since a Pakistani scored a world cup century. No Pakistani has scored one since Imran Nazir scored 160 against Zimbabwe back in 2007.

Leading from the front– Misbah-ul-Haq has crossed 50 in 3 of the 4 matches this world cup – joint-most 50+ scores by a Pakistani Captain in a single world cup. Imran Khan scored a century and 2 half-centuries in 1983.

Slowest but still a Landmark–Shahid Afridi today became the 4^th Pakistani and 27^th overall to score 8000 runs in ODI Cricket. However, 367 innings that he took, make him the slowest to achieve this feat.

Boom Boom 8000– Shahid Afridi may be the slowest to reach 8K ODI runs but his career strike rate of 116.86 is the Highest for any batsman with atleast 8000 runs. Only Virender Sehwag (104.33) strikes at more than run a ball.

Six off the only Ball– Wahab Riaz hit a SIX off the only ball he faced – Only such instance in ODI cricket world cup history. Overall, only the 7^th time such a feat has taken place; 3 times each by Pakistanis and Indians, one time by an Englishmen.

2^nd Best Team Score– 339/6 made by Pakistan in the 1^st innings is Pakistan’s 2^nd Highest Team Score in Cricket World Cup History. Highest: 349 all out vs Zimbabwe, 2007

Un-beaten after 300– Five times has Pakistan made 300 or more in WCs, every time they have successfully defended it. Four other teams have successfully defended 300 in a WC match every time: Australia 16 times, Sri Lanka 9 times, New Zealand 7 times and Ireland 3 times.

Best of the Associates– Three 50+ scores by Shaiman Anwar in this World Cup – joint-most 50+ scores by a batsman from Associate Nations in a single World Cup. Ryan ten Doeschate (NETH) made as many in 2011.

Not Famous but The Leader– Shaiman Anwar of UAE has scored 270 runs in this world cup, most for any player. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) is second with 268 with Chris Gayle (WI) at third with 258.

Career Best, 2^nd Best – AM Guruge 8-0-54-4; his career best bowling figures in ODIs are the 2^nd best by a UAE bowler in Cricket WCs.

Best against a Test Nation – 83 runs added by Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar is UAE’s best partnership against a test nation for any wicket in cricket world cups. Overall, 2^nd best against a Test nation in all ODIs. Best: 94 by Mazhar Hussain/V Mehra vs India, 1994

Afridi a Match-Winner– Shahid Afridi has now been involved in 215 wins for Pakistan – now most by any player from Pakistan surpassing Inzamam-ul-Haq (214 wins).