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In an electrifying display of cricket at the Harare Sports Club, Afghanistan‘s young batting sensation, Sediqullah Atal, etched his name into the annals of Afghan cricket history by scoring his maiden One Day International (ODI) century against Zimbabwe in the second match of their series. This performance not only highlighted Atal’s growing prowess but also underlined Afghanistan’s strengthening cricketing stature on the international stage.
The match context
The second ODI between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was crucial after the first match ended in a washout, inꩵtensifying the importance of the game for both teams. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Afghanistan was looking to capitalize on the momentum from their recent T20I series win against Zimbabwe. The conditions were perfect for batting, with the pitch offering little assiꦡstance to the bowlers, setting the stage for what would become a memorable innings.
Sediqullah Atal’s batting masterclass
Opening the innings, Atal, alongside Abdul Malik, provided Afghanistan with⛦ a solid start. The duo stitche𝄹d together a formidable opening partnership, setting the tone for the innings. Atal, known for his aggressive yet calculated approach, showcased his class with a blend of elegant drives, powerful pulls, and smart running between the wickets.
Milestones: Atal reached his half-century off 81 deliveries, a testament to his patience and technique. His innings was punctuated by several boundaries, demonstrating his ability to find gaps with precision. His maiden ODI hundred came in style with a majestic six off Richard Ngarava, taking him to 102 runs off 125 balls.
Key Moments: His century was not just about the runs but also the manner of scoring. A particularly memorable m𓆉oment was when he reached his hundred with a top-edged pull that still cleared the boundary, showcasing his luck and skill in equal measure.
Partnerships: Atal’s partnership with Malik was crucial, amassing over 100 runs for the first wicket. Even after Malik’s departure for a well-made 84, Atal continued to anchor the innings, ensuring that Afghanistan did not lose momentum.
Afghanistan’s innings overview
Total Score: Afghani⛦stan posted a formidable 286/6 in their 50 overs, a score that seemed within reach given the start p🍰rovided by Atal.
Other Contributors: While Atal was the star of the show, other players like Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi chipped in with useful contributions. Hashmatullah Shahidi’s late cameo was vital in pushing the score close to 300, although the team fell short of that mark.
Bowling Performance by Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe’s bowlers, particularly Newman Nyamhuri and Ngarava, tried to make inroads, with Ny🌳amhuri eventually dismissing Atal for 104. However, the damage had largely been done by then, with Afghanistan setting a challenging total.
Here is how Twitter reacted
A Hundred🌊 of the highest class for the young top-or༺der batter, Sediqullah Atal. 👏💯 | |
— Afghanistan🌳 Cricket Board (@ACBofficials)
Congratulations / for maiden ODI hundred
What an absolute j𝄹oy it has been to see him out in the middle has unearthed another gem of an opener
Brilliant knock
Great game awareness
Quick between the wickets and majestic shots…— Ahmad Farhad Fidai (@AhFarhadFidai)
RECORDS TUMBLING!
Afghanistan all over Zimbabwe at the moment. Opening pair of Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik have already registered 7th highest opening partnership for Afgh༒anis🦹tan in ODI cricket.
What more𒉰 amazing is that both these openers have just 6 ODIs in total. This…
— Udit (@Merovaeous)
What an i✅ncredible batting effort by the talented left-arm top🐻-order batter Sediqullah Atal. He was into his 4th ODI inning and what he has already achieved. An ODI HUNDRED! 👏
Fantastic achievement! 🤩
— Hakim Ahmadzai (@HAhmadzai10)
Century by Sediqullah Atal in 2nd odi 🏏
— Kohli fan (@duary_satyajit)
Sediqullah Atal smashed Maiden ODI Hundred against Zim🍎babw👍e
— Rohit Baliyan (@rohit_balyan)
Afganist𒉰an top order for Champions Tro💖phy looking Solid
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Sediqullah Atal
Ibrahim Zadran— Caught & Bowled (@caught1bowled)
Wonderful Knock. Career Best Highe🦄st individual ODI score for Sediqullah Atal 104 and Abdul Malik 84.
— Ja💛ayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan)
Well played Sediqulla꧋h Atal. Top knock. T𝄹errific century.
Should be a regular in ODIs.
— maddy (@224notout)
Sediqullah Atal is special 🔥
— 🆁🅾🅻🅴🆇ᶜʳⁱᶜᵏᵉᵗᵍᵉᵉᵏ (@RoshanSriram123)
