This Afghanistan player has eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record
What's the story
Afghanistan bowed out of the ICC World Cup 2019 with zero wins in nine matches. Their final defeat was against the West Indies in the match number 42 of the ongoing World Cup on Thursday. Youngster Ikram Ali Khil gave the side a reason to smile after hitting 86 against the Windies. With this, he eclipsed a long-standing record of Sachin Tendulkar. Here's more.
Khil vs Windies
Khil impresses with an entertaining knock of 86
Batting first, Windies managed 311/6, as they won the match eventually by 23 runs. Credit to Afghanistan for putting up a fight. What stood out was the innings of teenager Khil. He was promoted to number three and the move turned out well. Khil scored an entertaining 93-ball 86. His innings was laced with eight fours at a strike-rate of 92.47.
Record
Khil breaks Tendulkar's record
Khil at 18 years and 278 days went on to break a record of legend Sachin Tendulkar in the World Cup. Tendulkar had amassed 81 runs at the age of 18 years and 318 days during the 1992 edition of the World Cup against Zimbabwe. He was the youngest to score 80-plus runs in the World Cup. Khil now has surpassed the feat.
Twitter Post
Fourth youngest half-centurion in World Cup
The fourth youngest half-centurion in World Cup history!
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 4, 2019
Well batted, Ikram Ali Khil 👏 #AFGvWI | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/b7kF53f47G
Khil records
Khil scripts these records as well
Khil played seven games in CWC 19 and ended up with 142 runs. This knock of 86 was his maiden ODI fifty. Interestingly, he now holds the second highest score by an Afghan batsman in World Cup history. Samiullah Shinwari's 96 in 2015 against Scotland is still the highest. Also, his knock was the highest individual score for Afghanistan in CWC 19.
Our take
Promising Khil has a bright future ahead
Khil is another young Afghan cricketer who has all the promise of making it big in the future. A side that has youngsters such as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, will look to make it count in the years to come. Khil needs to be nurtured well. One wants to see Afghanistan get the right exposure as well in the big stage.