But it was the 92 he conceded against Auckland at the bowling crease which proved to be the most decisive.
The Pakistan international bowling all-rounder had a mixed day.
His expensive 10-over spell helped Auckland reach 362 for five - a ground record for Whitestone Contracting Stadium - but he atoned somewhat with a hard-hit undefeated innings of 110.
Arafat whacked 13 fours and three sixes and combined in a 116-run stand for the seventh wicket with Greg Todd.
However, Otago never seriously threatened to overhaul Auckland's total, and lost by 84 runs.
The best the home side could hope for was to avoid conceding a bonus point by reaching 289, but it fell short of that mark as well, being dismissed for 278 in the 47th over.
The loss has left Otago's semifinal prospects hanging by a very thin thread.
Central Districts and Northern Districts had convincing wins against Canterbury and Wellington respectively, and have moved up the competition table.
Auckland leads with 22 points from Central (17), Northern (13), Canterbury (13), Wellington (8) and Otago (4).
The Volts need to win both their remaining matches and pick up at least one bonus point, and they will still be relying on other results going their way.
It is a bleak outcome for a side which has built a reputation as one of the best one-day outfits in the country.
Last week, it missed out on a place in the final of the twenty/20 tournament, and in all likelihood it will miss the one-day play-offs.
Arafat's bowling analysis was the second-most expensive in New Zealand domestic one-day cricket.
The No 1 spot is occupied by Northern Districts trundler Craig Presland, who took two for 93 in a match against Auckland in the early '80s.
Remarkably, Arafat started well - very well in fact.
He bowled three maidens in his first five overs and at none for 10 should have quit while he was ahead.
Auckland took 16 deliveries to get off the mark as Neil Wagner and Arafat kept the openers pinned down.
Once Tim McIntosh opened his account, the normally cautious left-hander hit out to make an aggressive 138 to help set up Auckland's massive total.
McIntosh hit 16 fours and three sixes in his 127-ball innings and combined in a 194-run stand for the second wicket with Reece Young, as Auckland mangled the Otago attack.
Warren McSkimming did not escape, taking one for 75 from 10 overs, and even the normally parsimonious Nick Beard had 68 runs hit off his 10.
Young hit 13 fours and a six but on 94, and in sight of his fifth one-day century, he was bowled by Wagner.
McIntosh departed when he misjudged a run and was caught short of his ground.
But by then the pair had laid the platform for a brutal assault in which Scott Styris crashed 55 off 23 (50 off 22) and Colin de Grandhomme 27 off 13.
New Zealand under-19 batting all-rounder Jimmy Neesham faced only three balls but managed to hit a six and a four.
Otago's reply hit immediate trouble with Shaun Haig bowled for a duck and fellow opener Leighton Morgan run out in the fourth over.
Neesham picked up the key wicket of Otago skipper Craig Cumming and nicked out Darren Broom for a duck.
At 79 for six, Otago was facing a huge defeat but Todd and Arafat saved further blushes, getting Otago through to 195 before Todd was undone on 69.
It was the first one-dayer in Oamaru since February 2005 and a crowd of 200-300 enjoyed superb weather and some big hitting.
Kane Williamson scored 108 not out as Northern Districts cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday, NZPA reported.
Wellington, asked to bat after losing the toss, scored 216 on the back of half-centuries from wicketkeeper Chris Nevin and all-rounder Luke Woodcock.
Williamson, BJ Watling (50) and Daniel Flynn (45no) helped Northern Districts to chase the target down in just 33 overs.
Central Districts crushed Canterbury by eight wickets at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, yesterday.
Canterbury was dismissed for 77 in 32.4 overs as Central bowlers Michael Mason and Ewen Thompson used the morning's overcast conditions to swing the ball.
Central needed just 15 overs to overhaul Canterbury and collect a bonus point, losing two wickets on the way to 79.
