• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Sikandar Raza Surpasses Grant Flower As Fastest Zimbabwean To 4000 Odi Runs

Sikandar Raza Surpasses Grant Flower as Fastest Zimbabwean to 4000 ODI Runs

image-ljh34rbyRaza scored 42 against Oman on Thursday. (Twitter)

Veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fastest Zimbabwean player to reach 4,000 ODI runs. This feat was accomplished during Zimbabwe's ongoing Super Sixes clash against Oman in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.

Continuing his impressive form in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers, Raza played a brisk innings, scoring 42 runs off 49 balls, including six boundaries. Raza fell victim to Fayyaz Butt in the 39th over, missing out on what could have been his third fifty-plus score in the event.

By reaching the 4,000-run mark in just 127 innings, Raza surpassed the previous record held by Zimbabwean legend Grant Flower, who took 128 innings to achieve the same milestone. At 37 years old, Raza now joins the elite group of eight Zimbabwean batters who have reached this mark, with left-handed batter Sean Williams being the only active player to have scored more ODI runs for Zimbabwe.

Raza's contributions extend beyond his batting prowess. With his off-spin bowling, he has taken 84 wickets in ODIs at an impressive economy rate of 4.93. This remarkable all-round performance places him among the four Zimbabwean players who have achieved the double of 4,000 runs and 50 wickets in ODIs. 

The other players in this exclusive club are Sean Williams, Grant Flower, and Elton Chigumbura. Raza, with an average of 37.61 with the bat in ODIs, has also scored seven centuries and 21 half-centuries in this format.

During the ongoing match against Oman, Zimbabwe had a decent start with openers Joylord Gumbie (21) and Craig Ervine (25) forming a solid 46-run partnership before losing their wickets in quick succession. When Raza came to the crease, Zimbabwe's score was 112/3. Raza, along with Sean Williams, consolidated their position with an impressive 102-run partnership, tightening their grip on the contest. 

Their efforts propelled Zimbabwe to a final total of 332/7 after the completion of 50 overs.