Key points
- Babar scores 68, leading Pakistan to victory
- Holds record with 40 fifty-plus scores
ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam broke Indian batting legend Virat Kohli’s record during the third and final T20I of the series against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Babar, who played a match-winning innings of 68 off 47 balls, including nine fours, now holds the record for the most fifty-plus scores in T20 internationals, with 40. He surpassed Kohli’s previous record of 39.
Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma is third on the list with 37 fifty-plus scores, while Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is fourth with 31.
Most fifty-plus scores in T20I career:
- Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 40
- Virat Kohli (India) – 39
- Rohit Sharma (India) – 37
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) – 31
- David Warner (Australia) – 29
- Jos Buttler (England) – 29
In the final match, Pakistan chased down a modest target of 140 to secure a six-wicket win with six balls to spare, thanks to Babar’s steady half-century.
Pakistan faced an early setback when opener Saim Ayub was dismissed for a duck off six balls. However, Babar and Sahibzada Farhan stabilised the innings with a 36-run partnership. Farhan scored 19 off 18 balls before falling in the seventh over.
Babar then combined with skipper Salman Ali Agha to put on a brisk 76-run stand for the third wicket. Babar top-scored with 68, while Agha contributed a quickfire 33 off 26 balls.
Despite a late collapse at 133 for six, Faheem Ashraf and Usman Khan kept their composure to guide Pakistan to victory.
Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bowl first proved effective, as Shaheen Afridi and Salman Mirza led a disciplined bowling attack to restrict South Africa to 139 for nine in 20 overs.
The teams will now travel to Faisalabad for a three-match ODI series scheduled from November 4 to 8.
