Fakhar Zaman commits and scores hundred in the CT 2017 final

Players keep themselves away from making tall claims ahead of high-pressure games but Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman who is very young in his international career committed to the fans that he will try to score a hundred in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017 against India and in the end came true to it. The opener made his debut in the second match of the tournament after Pakistan decided to do away with struggling opener Ahmed Shehzad.

He came out attacking against the Indian new ball bowlers despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling really well from one end he came hard at Jasprit Bumrah and Indian ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. His innings wasn’t flawless while batting on 8, he edged Bumrah to MS Dhoni who took a safe catch but the umpires wanted to have another look.

As it turned out Bumrah had overstepped and Fakhar got a lucky break. He stayed on and made the Indians pay for the mistake. No bowler had an answer to his attacking strokeplay and in no time he got to his fifty. Eventually, the left-hander reached the triple figures, his maiden ODI hundred and what an occasion he chose to do that. The big night of the final against arch-rivals India.

He got out after scoring 114 from 106 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and 3 sixes. His knock ensured the Indian spinners both Ashwin and Jadeja were ineffective and expensive

Fakhar had tweeted- “I will try to score in triple figures verses India. #CT17”

In the mid-match interview, the 27-year-old said: “I was lucky with the no-ball. It’s a final against India, so I just tried to enjoy the innings. I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, I was thinking I wouldn’t be able to play but the physio said I would be fine in the morning. I took my time to begin with, you look at the wicket and then play your natural game,” Fakhar said.

When asked if they can defend 338? he said, “Their batting is very good but our bowling is very strong also, so let’s see.”