On Friday, Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batsman, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the third-highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals (T20Is), surpassing Martin Guptill. Despite his resilient half-century in Pakistan’s 46-run loss to New Zealand, Babar now has 3,542 runs in just 99 innings at an average of 41.67, including three centuries and 31 fifties.
Currently, India’s Virat Kohli leads the T20I run charts with 4,008 runs in 107 innings, followed closely by Rohit Sharma with 3,853 runs in 141 innings. Notably, Babar Azam is the only batsman among the top four to achieve this feat in fewer than 100 innings.
Despite Babar’s impressive performance, Pakistan faced a 46-run defeat against New Zealand, getting bowled out for 180 while chasing a challenging target of 227.
Saim Ayub provided a quick start for Pakistan with a dynamic 27-run inning from eight balls, featuring two boundaries and three sixes, before getting run out. Mohammad Rizwan scored 25 off 14 balls before being caught behind by Southee.
Contributions from Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed followed, but despite Babar Azam’s 57 runs from 35 balls, including six boundaries and two sixes, Pakistan couldn’t avoid the defeat. Southee took four wickets for New Zealand, while Milne and Sears picked two each.
In the earlier innings, New Zealand achieved a formidable total of 226/8 in 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell.
