Azhar Ali makes unbeaten double hundred in English county game

Worcestershire: Pakistan's Azhar Ali made an unbeaten double century as he helped Worcestershire rewrite the record books in an English County Championship match against Leicestershire on Friday.

Azhar and former England Under-19 international Jack Haynes put on 281 for the third wicket -- a record partnership against Leicestershire, surpassing the 278 by Cyril Walters and Harold Gibbons in 1934.

Their stand was the cornerstone of Worcestershire's 456 for three, a lead of 308, at stumps on the second day of four at New Road.

🚨𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗭𝗛𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗜!

Azhar completes a magnificent first century for Worcestershire off 159 balls

Superb stuff, Azhar bhai 👊

Worcestershire 253/2

💚#WeAreWorcestershire | 🍐#Pears pic.twitter.com/tGUsZAcA6M

— Worcestershire County Cricket Club (@WorcsCCC) May 20, 2022

Haynes was eventually dismissed for 127 but Azhar reached his double century in the final over of the day with a cover drive for four off Rehan Ahmed.

By that stage Azhar had faced 328 balls, with one six and 18 fours, and also shared in another century stand with Brett D'Oliveira (52 not out).

👊

💚 #WeAreWorcestershire | 🍐 #Pears https://t.co/3F6c30XIfl pic.twitter.com/ardWPJd4OO

— Worcestershire County Cricket Club (@WorcsCCC) May 20, 2022

Azhar arrived at New Road, Worcestershire's headquarters, after a successful Test series against Australia which included a marathon 185 spanning 11 hours at Rawalpindi.

The 37-year-old struggled at first with the change to English conditions and his opening six innings for Midlands county Worcestershire yielded 34 runs.

𝗔𝗭𝗛𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗜 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗧 🙌

The moment @AzharAli_ bhai went to his first Worcestershire century 💯 🤩

💚 #WeAreWorcestershire | 🍐 #Pears pic.twitter.com/fbMA4HXt92

— Worcestershire County Cricket Club (@WorcsCCC) May 20, 2022

But the former Pakistan captain has found his form since hitting 92 against a Durham attack including new England skipper Ben Stokes.

SOURCE: AFP