ZIM vs AFG: Sediqullah Atal Scores 104 Runs Off 128 Balls Against Zimbabwe
Sediqullah Atal scored 104 runs off 128 balls against Zimbabwe in the second game of the three-match ODI series at the Harare Sports Club. Atal had gone unsold in the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah.
In Brief
- Sediqullah Atal scored 104 runs off 128 balls vs Zimbabwe
- Atal stitched a 191-run stand with Abdul Malik
- Atal has represented Afghanistan in 5 ODIs and 9 T20Is
Atal’s Maiden ODI Hundred Against Zimbabwe
Left-handed batter Sediqullah Atal scored his maiden ODI hundred as Zimbabwe and Afghanistan faced off in the second game of the three-match series on Thursday, December 19 at the Harare Sports Club. Last month, Atal found no buyer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
IPL Auction Setback
Atal had a base price of Rs 75 lakhs, but he went unsold in the mega auction. The southpaw was at his very best against Zimbabwe, racking up a century off 125 balls. The 23-year-old scored 104 runs off 128 balls with eight fours and four sixes. On the back of his knock, the Afghans put up a decent score of 286 for five in 50 overs.
After the Afghans chose to bat first, Atal joined hands with one Abdul Malik, and the duo stitched 191 runs for the opening wicket off 35 overs. The fall of Malik’s wicket at the hands of Newman Nyamhuri broke the stand. Atal, meanwhile, continued to play until he became Nyamhuri’s third victim in the 43rd over.
A Remarkable Display of Batting
Sediqullah Atal put on a remarkable batting display and brought up a terrific hundred against Zimbabwe in the 2nd ODI. Fantastic batting by the youngster to get into his maiden hundred in international cricket.
Atal’s Explosive Performances
This performance comes after Atal made headlines for smacking seven sixes in an over during a match at the Kabul Premier League in July 2023. Atal, representing Shaheen Hunters, took on Amir Zazai, finishing with figures of 4-0-79-1 at a 19.75 economy, after leaking 48 runs in the over. He also scored an unbeaten 118 off 56 balls with seven boundaries and 10 sixes.
Atal finished as the leading run-scorer when Afghanistan recently won the Men’s Emerging Asia Cup in Oman. In five matches, Atal hammered 368 runs at an average of 122.66 and a strike rate of 147.79. He has so far scored 274 runs in five ODIs and nine T20Is at an average of 21.07.
