In a turn of events at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Pakistan’s fast bowler, Haris Rauf, found himself in an unwanted spotlight during the World Cup league match against England. Rauf conceded a staggering 533 runs in nine innings, clinching the record for the most runs conceded by a bowler in a single edition of the World Cup. This surpassed the previous benchmark set by England’s Adil Rashid in 2019, who had conceded 526 runs.
Despite his noteworthy feat of taking 15 wickets in the tournament, Rauf struggled with an economy rate of 6.74. His performance catapulted him into the ranks of the few bowlers who have conceded more than 500 runs in a single World Cup edition. The list includes Adil Rashid, Dilshan Madushanka, and Mitchell Starc from previous tournaments.
The league match itself was a high-scoring affair, with defending champions England posting an imposing total of 337 runs against Pakistan. The opening pair of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow laid a solid foundation with an 82-run partnership. Joe Root and Ben Stokes further propelled England forward with a substantial 132-run stand. In the late overs, skipper Jos Buttler and Harry Brook contributed vital cameos, setting a formidable target of 338 runs.
Haris Rauf, despite his record-breaking concession of runs, managed to take three wickets for Pakistan in the match. Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr also made notable contributions with two wickets each. As the World Cup unfolds with its share of individual records and team accomplishments, Rauf’s unfortunate distinction adds a unique chapter to the cricketing narrative.
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