Teams Post Identical Wins vs Each Other in Consecutive Games

February 12, 2018 Phaneendra Varma Cricket Scoops, Sports Scoops 0

I am sure very few cricket fans are following the ongoing five match One Day International series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in United Arab Emirates (U.A.E). However, those who are following the series might already know this stat!

To all those who are not following the series: the first two ODI matches are done and dusted in the series and the scoreline reads 1-1 (one game each) so far in the series. This is not so special and one can see this result in almost every bilateral series.

But going further into details of these first two matches is where the typical numbers game lie! It’s not a stat that you would get to see in every bilateral series. Here we go:

First ODI: Afghanistan, won the toss who opted to bat first, finished with the total of 333/5 on the board in their 50 Overs. In reply, Zimbabwe were able to manage only 179 runs in 34.4 Overs. Afghanistan won the game by 154 runs taking a lead of 1-0 in the series.

Second ODI: This time the visitors Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first. And to everyone’s surprise Zimbabwe finished with 333/5 (the same total which Afghanistan scored in the first ODI batting first) in their 50 Overs. Afghanistan in reply were bowled out for 179 (the same total which Zimbabwe scored in the first ODI while chasing). Zimbabwe won the second match by 154 runs (Needless to say, this is the same margin as in the first ODI) leveling the series 1-1.

Mother of all coincidences, isn’t it?

Rahmat Shah of Afghanistan scored his third hundred (114) in this format in the first ODI and got the Man of the Match award. This was also his first hundred against a test-playing nation. Brendan Taylor got the Man of the Match award in the second ODI for his 125, his first hundred since re-joining Zimbabwe in 2017 after breaking the Kolpak deal.