Pakistan’s spinner, Sufiyan Muqeem, made cricket history on Tuesday by setting a new world record in One Day International (ODI) cricket. Muqeem’s Incredible Record was achieved as he became the player with the highest individual score at the number 12 position in an ODI match. This remarkable achievement further secures his place in cricket history.
Muqeem’s Incredible Record in Cricket: Match Details and His Contribution
Muqeem’s record-breaking performance happened during the second ODI of a three-match series against New Zealand in Hamilton. Pakistan was chasing a target of 293 runs but was struggling at 174/9 when Muqeem came in to bat. He scored 13 runs off just 10 balls, hitting one four and one six.
Muqeem also had a short partnership with Naseem Shah, who played well and scored 51 runs off 44 balls. Naseem hit four fours and four sixes, giving Pakistan hope in their chase, adding to Muqeem’s incredible record.
Comparison to Previous Records
Despite Naseem Shah’s strong batting, he could not surpass Muqeem’s Incredible Record set by Mohammed Amir. In 2016, Amir had scored 58 runs while batting at number 11 against England. Naseem had to replace Haris Rauf as a concussion substitute after Rauf was hit on the helmet. Because of this, Muqeem’s Incredible Record was considered to be batting at number 12 for Pakistan, according to Wisden.
New Zealand’s Victory in the Match
New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 84 runs in this match, securing a 2-0 series victory with one game left to play. Pakistan had chosen to field first, and New Zealand scored 292/8 in their 50 overs.
Initially, Pakistan’s bowlers did well, reducing New Zealand to 132/5. However, strong performances from Muhammad Abbas (41 runs off 66 balls) and Mitchell Hay (99* runs off 78 balls, hitting seven fours and seven sixes) helped New Zealand recover and set a strong target.
Pakistan’s Bowling Performance
Among Pakistan’s bowlers, Muqeem’s Incredible Record stood out as he and Mohammed Wasim performed the best. Muqeem took 2 wickets for 33 runs, while Wasim took 2 wickets for 78 runs. Despite their efforts, New Zealand built a challenging total.
Pakistan’s Struggles in the Chase
Pakistan’s batting line-up faced difficulties from the start. They quickly fell to 72/7 due to excellent bowling by Ben Sears (5/59) and Jacob Duffy (3/35). Despite this collapse, Faheem Ashraf provided some resistance. He played an impressive innings, scoring 73 runs off 80 balls with six fours and three sixes.
Naseem Shah also contributed well, scoring 51 runs off 44 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. However, their efforts were not enough, and Pakistan was bowled out before reaching the target.
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