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Top 5 Scores By Afghanistan Batters In ODI World Cup History

image-loou6abrIbrahim Zadran celebrating his fifty vs PAK at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

One of the latest entrants to the lore of ICC ODI World Cups, Afghanistan team soon established itself among the giants with a tale of determination and resilience. Fondly known as world-beaters by fans all over the world, one of the many reasons of Afghanistan’s meteoric rise can be attributed to the stellar performance of their batters, who have time and again defied the odds and etched themselves in their country’s World Cup history.

Here at OneCricket, we explore some of the most remarkable exhibitions put up by their batters at cricket’s grandest stage, by unveiling five of their highest individual scores recorded in the competition.

Top 5 Scores by Afghanistan batsmen in ICC World Cup matches:


1. Ibrahim Zadran - 129* vs AUS, 2023 World Cup

image-loou9yj1Ibrahim Zadran celebrating his 2023 World Cup century vs AUS (AP)

Afghanistan’s 21-year-old batting prodigy Ibrahim Zadran punched out 129 unbeaten runs against Australia in their must-win World Cup 2023 game in Mumbai. The innings prolonged his golden run with the bat in the tournament, and marked the fifth century of his ODI career.

Notably, Zadran’s batting masterclass also marked the first ever instance of an Afghan batter listing over 100 runs in a World Cup match. The youngster stood up against the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa; as he cut, pulled and drove his way to an imperial 129* from 143 balls.

Zadran’s three-and-a-half-hour marathon also boosted his nation towards their record World Cup total (291-6), one which eventually fell short of Glenn Maxwell’s rampage later in the run-chase.


2. Samiullah Shinwari - 96 vs SCO, 2015 World Cup

image-looucm2zSamiullah Shinwari in action against SCO at the 2015 World Cup (x.com)

Afghanistan’s yesteryear number four Samiullah Shinwari came up clutch during one of his side’s earliest World Cup matches during their maiden tournament camp in 2015. Chasing 210 to beat Scotland and to register their first-ever win in a World Cup game, Shinwari scored 96 tense runs without forming a single notable partnership from the other end throughout his innings.

The right-hander took his time by chewing up 147 deliveries, and dispatched seven of them for boundaries and five of them for sixes to take his side at the brink of the finishing line. At 97-7, his calculated assault coupled with tactical running between the wickets kept ticking his side’s scoring rate until they required 19 more runs by the time of his untimely dismissal.

Fortunately for Afghanistan, their last-wicket pair held on at the death to script a thrilling win in a nail-biting finish.


3. Ibrahim Zadran - 87 vs PAK, 2023 World Cup

image-looue8ecIbrahim Zadran in action against PAK at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Weeks before plundering his record-breaking 129* against Australia, Ibrahim Zadran unfurled a run-chase masterclass for his side in their tense game against continental rivals Pakistan. Opening the innings with Rahmanullah Gurbaz on a tough Chennai wicket, all while countering the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali; Zadran initially played second-fiddle to his partner before taking up the aggressor’s role upon Gurbaz’s dismissal.

The cricketer slapped 10 boundaries in his 87-run knock to set up a concrete foundation for his middle-order to chase down Pakistan’s 282-run total. Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi justified Zadran’s efforts at the top by overcoming their task with an over to spare, thus scripting their first-ever win against Pakistan across all their ODI meetings.


4. Ikram Alikhil - 86 vs WI, 2019 World Cup

image-loougu0sIkram Alikhil in action against WI at the 2019 World Cup (x.com)

Afghanistan spent their entire 2019 World Cup campaign without securing a single win from their nine league fixtures. Nevertheless, they did manage to instill a sense of trepidation in the West Indies camp in their final match of the tournament through a valiant and tenacious performance.

The highlight of Afghan’s late insurgence was none other than their 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Ikram Alikhil. Chasing a monumental West Indies total of 312 to instill some pride to their otherwise disastrous World Cup run, Alikhil formed fighting partnerships with opener Rahmat Shah and number four Najibullah Zadran to score a near run-a-ball 86.

Through the course of his innings, he became the third youngest cricketer in World Cup history to list a World Cup fifty. His valiant efforts, however, were tendered fruitless as Afghanistan fell 23 runs short of their target to cope their ninth defeat in a row.


5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz - 80 vs ENG, 2023 World Cup

image-loouitytRahmanullah Gurbaz in action against ENG at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Foundation of Afghanistan’s 2023 World Cup insurgence was laid out by none other than their explosive opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who bludgeoned defending champions England with a scintillating 57-ball 80 at the top of the order in Delhi.

Afghanistan entered the contest off the back of 14 consecutive World Cup defeats, including two upfront in the ongoing 2023 edition. Finding themselves backed against the wall, Gurbaz carpet-bombed the English attack with eight boundaries and four sixes to set up his side’s 284-run total upfront.

Against Afghanistan’s spin arsenal, England slumped in their run-chase pressure and eventually fell 69 runs short of their target. Afghanistan’s win snapped their unwanted eight-year long losing streak, and also marked their first-ever triumph against a Test playing nation in a World Cup game.