Flashback: Highest strike rate in a Test double-century

Afghanistan’s Shafiqullah Shafiq holds the record for the highest strike rate for any batter in a first-class innings of over 200 runs. The 34-year-old achieved the feat during Match 20 of the Alokozay Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament in 2018. Shafiqullah, who was leading Kabul Region against Boost Region etched his name in record books during the game played from April 08-11.

Coming in to bat at number 6 in the first innings, the Kabul skipper was dismissed cheaply for 22 (10) as his team posted 413 with top knocks from Said Mutabar (98), Ghamai Zadran (87) and Imran Janat (78). Later, Boost were bundled out for 250 in their first innings with Waheedullah Sahafaq top-scoring with 80 (101).

Shafiq goes berserk

In Kabul’s second innings, Shafiqullah decided to promote himself to number five with his team reeling at 58/3 and wreaked havoc with the bat. The then 28-year-old came out all guns blazing and completed his half-century off just 29 balls smashing two fours and six sixes in his innings. He just took another 23 balls to reach the three-figure mark and completed his hundred off 52 deliveries, clobbering five fours and 11 sixes.

There was more carnage coming Boost’s way as Shafiqullah scored his next fifty runs off just 15 balls adding five more sixes and four boundaries to his name. He further completed his 200 in just 89 balls batting at a strike rate of 224.71. The Kabul skipper remained unbeaten on 200* (89) with the help of 11 fours and 22 sixes in his innings as he took his team to the score of 312/5.

His strike rate of 224.71 is still the highest in a first-class innings of over 200 runs and he deservedly awarded the Player of the Match for his breathtaking batting display. Shafiqullah has played just eight first-class games in his career and scored 595 runs at an average of 49.58 with one hundred and three fifties.

At the international level, he has played 24 ODIs and 46 T20Is for Afghanistan but failed to leave his mark scoring 430 runs and 494 runs in the two formats respectively.