Ireland vs Afghanistan 2017: 2nd ODI, 5 Talking Points

#3 Asghar Stanikzai slams career-best score and maiden hundred

Stanikzai slammed a hundred to help Afghanistan past 300

Stanikzai walked in with Afghanistan at 94/2. He played second fiddle to a rampant Rahmat Shah and seemed happy to stride along at a strike rate in the 60s. However, the experienced middle order batsman let loose after he crossed 40.

He hit Tim Murtagh for 19 in an over that included two sixes and a four and reached his fifty in 65 balls. He then took on Peter Chase in his comeback spell and slammed a hat-trick of sixes in an over that leaked 23 runs.

The batsman raced to his maiden hundred in 88 balls as Afghanistan continued to pile on the runs. Stanikzai was instrumental in setting up a huge total for the Afghans on a pitch that slowed up a bit as the game progressed.