Ton-up Gurbaz stars in Afghanistan’s record opening stand

Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a run-a-ball century as Afghanistan are on course to post a huge total against Bangladesh in the second and penultimate ODI of the series in Chattogram today.

Having won the series opener, Afghanistan could not have asked for a better start after Bangladesh stand-in skipper Liton Das asked the visitors to bat first.

Afghanistan supporters cheer at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on July 08, 2023. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

The opening duo of Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran so far piled up 174 in 28 overs and, in the process, registered the highest-ever opening stand for their country – surpassing the 141-run stand between Karim Sadiq and Javed Ahmadi against the Netherlands in 2012.   

At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Gurbaz looked in fine form from the onset and played the role of aggressor as the right-hander cruised to his fourth ODI ton in 20 outings, hitting eight boundaries and six maximums along the way.

His partner, Ibrahim Zadran, looked composed and is two runs short of his third fifty in 13 ODI innings.

All Bangladesh bowlers have been lacklustre, conceding extras and deviating from line and length periodically.