Ryan Rickelton maiden ODI century lit up Karachi as South Africa posted 315/6 before bundling out Afghanistan for 208 in the Champions Trophy. His 103 marked the fifth century of the tournament, making this edition the most prolific in terms of hundreds across the first three matches—outpacing any previous Champions Trophy or men’s World Cup.

Batting-Friendly Conditions?

Despite the run-fest, Rickelton dismissed the notion that the conditions were overly favorable to batters. “We bowled them out for 200,” he pointed out in the post-match press conference. “Pakistan is known for good pitches, and when the dew sets in, the ball skids on nicely. But execution still matters.”

His teammate Rassie van der Dussen compared the Karachi surface to a “day-three pitch at the Wanderers,” while captain Temba Bavuma admitted they took a calculated risk by choosing to bat first.

A Tournament of Centuries

Rickelton joins an elite group of centurions in this tournament. India’s Shubman Gill (101*), Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy (100), and New Zealand’s Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118*) all reached three figures earlier in the competition. Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah came close but fell for 90 against Kagiso Rabada.

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott acknowledged his team’s shortcomings: “One player scored 90, but we needed others to step up and build partnerships.”

Records Reflect the Run-Scoring Trend

The batting-friendly nature of Pakistan’s pitches was evident even before the tournament began. Since international cricket returned to the country in 2019, ODI batters have averaged 34.91, the highest worldwide. Bowlers, on the other hand, have struggled with an average of 38.85. In the 27 ODIs played in Pakistan during that period, teams posted 300+ totals on 16 occasions.

Historically, tournaments have seen three centuries in the first three matches only four times, with four tons recorded twice. However, this current edition has shattered all past records, further reinforcing Pakistan’s reputation as a batting paradise.

Even in such favorable conditions, runs don’t come automatically. As Rickelton emphasized, past performances don’t guarantee future success. New Zealand’s Will Young echoed the sentiment: “The next game is the most important one.”

Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi, reflecting on his team’s loss, said: “We’ll forget our mistakes and move on.”

One thing is clear—on Pakistan’s pitches, runs and centuries are there for the taking.

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