Afghanistan vs Ireland 2019, 2nd T20I: Statistical Highights

Afghanistan, on Saturday, thrashed Ireland by 84 runs in the second T20I to seal the three-match series.  Hazratullah Zazai’s sensational 62-ball 162 helped Afghanistan post a mammoth 278 for 3. In reply, Ireland, riding on skipper Paul Stirling’s 91, put up a good fight in the beginning but ran out of steam and were eventually restricted to 194 for 6.

With the run-feast in Dehradun now coming to an end, we take a look at the interesting numbers and stats:

1. Afghanistan’s total of 278 for 3 is the highest ever total in all T20 cricket. They surpassed the previous best of 263 each by Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in 2013 and by Australia against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2016.

2. Hazratullah smashed an unbeaten 161 off just 62 deliveries. It is the second-highest individual score in a T20I after Aaron Finch’s 172 against Zimbabwe in Harare last July and the joint third highest in all T20 matches.

3. Hazratullah and Usman Ghani added 236 runs for the first wicket which is the highest partnership for any wicket in the history of T20 cricket. The pair went past the previous record of 229 for the second wicket between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Gujarat Lions in Bengaluru in 2016. In international cricket, the previous best was the 223-run stand between Finch and D’Arcy Short against Zimbabwe last year.

4. Hazratullah scored his ton off just 42 balls which is the third fastest in terms of balls faced after 35-ball tons by David Miller against Bangladesh and 38-ball century by Rohit Sharma against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017.

5. Hazratullah hit a staggering 16 sixes during his knock –  the most ever in a T20I surpassing 14 maximums by Aaron Finch against England in Southampton in 2013.

6. Afghanistan’s innings was studded with 22 sixes, thus they beat Windies and India’s joint-record of most sixes in an innings. Windies had hit  21 maximums against India in Lauderhill in 2016 and by India against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017.

7. Afghanistan have now won 9 consecutive T20Is – the joint second best in the format. The record is held by Afghanistan itself who won 11 in a row between March 2016 and 2017.

8. Rashid Khan has now taken 24 wickets against Ireland in T20Is which is the most for any bowler against an opponent in T20I.