The first ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland saw multiple records being broken by a youngster as he helped his team secure a thrilling win in Abu Dhabi. 19-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was born on November 28, 2001, became the first Afghanistan batsman in history to score a century on debut. His run-a-ball 127 included eight fours and nine sixes and it was the first time in cricket history that an ODI debutant had smashed nine sixes. Rahmanullah Gurbaz's magnificent knock helped Afghanistan get the better of Ireland by 16 runs in a high-scoring encounter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz's magnificent ton was boosted by a brilliant cameo of 55 from 30 balls from Afghanistan sensation Rashid Khan as Afghanistan finished on 287/9. In the middle overs between 22 and 38, Afghanistan had lost six wickets for 78 runs with Andy McBrine finishing with 5/29. However, Rashid Khan's brilliance helped Afghanistan immensely as he smashed five sixes and two fours as Afghanistan hit 31 runs in the last two overs. In response, Ireland was in trouble at 88/4 but Ireland wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher stitched a solid stand. Tucker kept Ireland in the hunt but once he was stumped by Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Rashid Khan, the game was sealed. Speaking at the end of the match, Rahmanullah Gurbaz said, "First ODI match to get MoM, I am really happy. I went for loose balls. First of last doesn't matter. I just played my natural game," Gurbaz said.
Who is Rahmanullah Gurbaz?
Rahmanullah Gurbaz made his cricketing debut in January 2017 at the age of 15 when he played for Afghanistan A in their clash against Zimbabwe A in Harare. In that match, he could not bat but in T20s in the Shpageeza T20 League, he played for Mis Ainak Knights and his debut started poorly with a two-ball duck. However, in subsequent years, Rahmanullah Gurbaz secured a name for himself in Afghanistan cricket.
In 10 Twenty20 Internationals, he has hit two fifties and his highest knock was 79 against West Indies in Ekana Stadium in Lucknow and it was his knock that enabled Afghanistan to win the match and he was awarded the Man of the Match award. His only other fifty came against Zimbabwe in Chhatogram in 2019 but it came in a losing cause as Zimbabwe won the match by seven wickets.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has an average of 33 in T20Is while in First-Class cricket, he has 941 runs at an average of 49 with the highest score of 153. In List A cricket, he has three centuries and averages 42 while in Twenty20 cricket, he has the highest score of 99. With Rahmanullah Gurbaz becoming the first player born in the 2000 period to score a century, the future definitely looks bright for him and Afghanistan cricket.
