Records galore as Pakistan rewrite history in Bulawayo

Pakistan batsmen dominate proceedings in fourth ODI against Zimbabwe

KARACHI: Openers Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq stole the limelight after a record-breaking partnership of 304 runs at the top of the order, in the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

The duo broke the world record for highest opening partnership after they went past the previous best of 286 runs set by Sri Lankan pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga against England at Leeds in 2006.

The opening stand of 304 runs between Fakhar and Imam is also the highest partnership in Pakistan's ODI history, going past the previous record of 263 runs between Inzamam and Aamir Sohail against New Zealand in 1994.

Zaman also registered the highest innings by a Pakistani batsman in ODI history after he bettered the previous innings of 194 runs by Saeed Anwar against India at Chennai. His unbeaten score of 210 runs included 24 fours and five sixes.

Imam was dismissed after scoring his second century of the series. His knock of 113 runs included eight boundaries.

Pakistan also notched up their highest score in ODI history — after ending up at 399/1 in their allotted fifty overs — after they smashed their previous record of 385 runs against Bangladesh at Dambulla.

Zimbabwe now face a daunting task of chasing 400 runs to avoid suffering a fourth straight defeat in the five-match series.

Records broken
• Zaman becomes 1st Pakistani to score a double century in ODIs
• Zaman score of 210 is the highest by any Pakistani in an ODI innings
• Zaman, Imam break world record for highest opening stand with 304 runs
• This stand is also the highest partnership in Pakistan’s ODI history
• Pakistan’s total of 399-1 is their highest ODI score ever