Twitter Reactions: Fakhar Zaman bangs maiden ODI hundred on big occasion

Losing the all important toss, Pakistan were sent in to bat first by Indian captain Virat Kohli in the ICC Champions Trophy final 2017 at the Kennington Oval today. The left-handed Fakhar Zaman stepped onto the 22 yards along with partner Azhar Ali to face a promising Indian bowling attack.

Unlike their dismal batting performance against India in the group stages of the tournament, the Pakistani openers silenced their critics this time by putting up a gutsy 128 run stand. While Azhar Ali fell on the wrong side of a run out immediately after reaching the half-century mark, Fakhar Zaman grabbed the limelight with a significant hundred.

A well-planned inning:

The composed innings marked the 27-year old’s maiden One Day International hundred and he could not have chosen a better opponent than India. It took 93 deliveries for the lanky left-hander to reach the milestone.

Fakhar Zaman got a second chance in the match earlier in the innings when he edged one back to Mahendra Singh Dhoni off a Jasprit Bumrah delivery but was fortunate enough to see the umpire signal it as a no ball. Zaman capitalised on the opportunity in the most appropriate way possible by slamming a ton in the finale.

Fakhar Zaman started his inning quite shakily surviving a few inside edges too, but it did not take long for the batsman to adapt to the situations. Soon after completing his fifty, he took the challenge to spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin and hammered the duo all over the park to close in on his hundred. Zaman’s lethal charge also prevented India from capitalising on Azhar Ali’s wicket and brought back the momentum in Pakistan’s favour.

His hundred was applauded all over Twitter and here is what people had to say on the splendid display of batting:

Huge wicket ….. but what a Fakhar 100 that was ….. #PAKvIND #CT17

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 18, 2017

Fakhar Zaman ???? ? #CT17Final #PAKVIND #ChampionsTrophy17

— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23) June 18, 2017

Well played Fakhar Zaman. A fine knock thus far.#IndiavPakistan #CT17Final

— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) June 18, 2017

Splendid hundred by Fakhar #CT2017Final #IndvPak Scratchy at first and gradually grew in to the innings.. played some wonderful shots !!

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 18, 2017

I can't get enough of Ramiz saying "Fakhar" ???. His batting is also entertaining. #ChampionsTrophyFinal

— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) June 18, 2017

That guy Fakhar is making India pay for that NoBall.. what a difference he's been for Pakistan…#INDvPAK #ct17 320+ would be needed

— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) June 18, 2017

What a Fakhar shot that was……. !! #PAKvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 18, 2017

India bowlers will be desperate to get rid of this little Fakhar!! ?? what a talent Zaman is.

— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) June 18, 2017

Excellent start boys…Keep going let's get to a 300 plus score now. #PAKvIND

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 18, 2017

Credit where due. pic.twitter.com/nLQtiWSHcw

— All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) June 18, 2017

??? Standing ovation from all parts of the ground for Fakhar Zaman after his superb ?#PAKvIND #CT17 pic.twitter.com/0hEV0Xu1r6

— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017

What a stage to get debut century! Riding early luck young Fakhar's daredevilry & gusto has India floundering.Potentially matchwinning knock

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 18, 2017

Have to admire this century from Fakhar Zaman. Tense game, big occasion and he has shown he has arrived.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 18, 2017

Played Zaman. Made the most of the reprieve early on. What a find for Pakistan ??. #CT17

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 18, 2017

6 out of 11 centuries in ODI finals by Pakistan batsmen (including Fakhar Zaman) are against India. #CT17 #PAKvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) June 18, 2017

well-deserved century Fakhar! Upsetting that it had to come in this game against India. quite a story, his. #PAKvIND

— Samreen (@SamreenRazzaqui) June 18, 2017

Well played Fakhar.. ??? Surprisingly, he hasn't shook hand with Bumrah. #INDvPAK

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 18, 2017

Fakhar Zaman, took the attack to the Indian, hammered India all over the park, and dominating them, Sanath did it for many years vs India!

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) June 18, 2017

? up for Fakhar Zaman! What a knock! He becomes the second Pakistan opener to score a ton in Champions Trophy! #INDvPAK #CT17

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) June 18, 2017

Lucky Fakhar! ?
What a knock! What a player! #CT17Final #INDvPAK

— Sonali Dhulap (@pillya) June 18, 2017

Almost as if he were a clairvoyant! @SGanguly99 had singled out Fakhar as biggest threat to India #INDvPAK #CT17final

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) June 18, 2017

Guys, take a moment out to applaud #FakharZaman.
Think of the moment. Think of the pressure.
What a batsman. What a talent.#CT17

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) June 18, 2017

Sweeps from outside off stump, almost falls over, but still times it well enough to beat the sweeper. The Fakhar method in full.

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) June 18, 2017

A sweep will do. What a brilliant innings from Fakhar. Looks like he's been playing international cricket for years. #INDvPAK #CT17

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) June 18, 2017

Fakhar Zaman has just got protection from trolls for life even if he never scores a run again in his career. Well played! #INDvPAK #CT17

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) June 18, 2017

What is it with left handed openers from Pakistan against India? Saeed Anwar, Salman Butt, even Nasir Jamshed, now Fakhar Zaman

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 18, 2017

Superb from Fakhar Zaman, what a time n place to get his 1st ODI hundred ?? #INDvPAK #CT17Final

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) June 18, 2017