Pakistan batsman Salman Ali Agha played a stellar role in guiding his team to victory against Sri Lanka while simultaneously setting a major milestone. During the opening match of the ODI tri-series held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, he delivered a magnificent knock of 107 runs. Through this performance, he became the leading centurion for Pakistan in ODI cricket while batting at number five or lower, overtaking former legendary player Mohammad Yousuf in the process.
Match-Winning Century Knock in Rawalpindi
During the fixture against Sri Lanka on October 18, Salman walked in to bat at the number five position. He faced 90 deliveries to score his 107 runs, a knock that featured 10 fours and a single six. Fueled by his impressive innings, Pakistan posted a total of 305 runs in 49.5 overs and eventually secured a 37-run victory. This marked Salman's fourth century in ODI cricket, with the remarkable distinction that all four of his hundreds have come while batting at number five or lower. Prior to this match, he and Mohammad Yousuf were tied with three centuries each, a tie he broke with this latest hundred.
Surpassing Mohammad Yousuf's Record
Former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf scored three centuries in 114 ODI matches between 1998 and 2009 while batting at number five or lower. In contrast, Salman has achieved four centuries in just 53 matches from the same batting position. Furthermore, Salman has set a new record for Pakistan by becoming the first player from the country to score three ODI centuries specifically while batting at the number five spot. Mohammad Yousuf had previously scored two centuries in 84 matches at this specific batting order position.
Global Records at Number Five and Lower
Looking at the broader international stage, the world record for the most centuries in ODI cricket while batting at number five or lower is jointly held by England's Jos Buttler and South Africa's David Miller, both of whom have struck eight centuries each. India's MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh feature in this list with seven centuries apiece. Meanwhile, the world record for the most centuries specifically while batting at number five belongs exclusively to Yuvraj Singh, who notched up seven hundreds for India at that exact position.
Key Partnerships and Match Accolades
During the contest against Sri Lanka, Salman shared a vital 97-run partnership with Hasan Nawaz for the fifth wicket. Hasan contributed 37 runs from 49 balls. Following this, Salman continued his aggressive and calculated knock, steering Pakistan to a competitive total and laying the foundation for the team's triumph. For his exceptional match-winning century, Salman was awarded the Player of the Match honor.
