Pakistan's left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman on Saturday equalled the long-standing record set by batting great Saeed Anwar, scoring a century against Sri Lanka in the final of the home ODI tri-series at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Fakhar, who opened the innings for Pakistan after the home side were set a daunting 326-run target in the summit clash by Sri Lanka, proved his credentials of performing in big matches by bringing up his 12th century in the format off just 84 deliveries.
He eventually went on to score 127 runs off 99 deliveries, studded with 11 fours and six sixes, before falling victim to Dilshan Madushanka in the 34th over of the innings. The brisk century was Fakhar's second in an ODI tournament final, with the first being his ton against traditional rivals India in the summit clash of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Champions Trophy 2017 at The Oval in London.
Consequently, Fakhar equalled legendary batter Anwar's record of scoring the most, two centuries, in an ODI tournament final by a Pakistani batter. The former Pakistan opener had set the benchmark by scoring hundreds against Sri Lanka in the 1993 Wills Trophy final and against fierce rivals at the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup in 1998.
Furthermore, the 127-run knock also bolstered Fakhar's ODI runs tally past the 4000-run barrier, becoming only the 16th Pakistani batter to achieve the milestone, joining the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad, Younis Khan and Anwar. Fakhar has now scored 4,019 runs in 96 innings in the format at a formidable average of 44.65 and a strike rate of 93.57.
Besides 12 centuries, the left-handed batter also has 19 fifties to his name in ODIs. His performance in the final has been widely lauded by cricket experts, who believe his ability to anchor the innings while maintaining a high strike rate makes him one of the most dangerous openers in modern-day cricket.
The innings at Gaddafi Stadium will be remembered as a masterclass in chasing high totals under pressure. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials also praised the opener for his consistency and dedication to the sport.
As the team looks forward to upcoming international assignments, Fakhar's form remains a crucial component of Pakistan's batting lineup. The match concluded with high spirits among the home crowd, who witnessed a historic individual performance despite the challenging target set by the visitors.
Fakhar's journey from domestic cricket to becoming a record-equalling international star serves as an inspiration for many young cricketers in the country. His focus remains on maintaining this momentum in the upcoming series, as he continues to climb the ranks of Pakistan's all-time leading run-scorers in the 50-over format.