Babar Azam’s half-century propelled Pakistan to their second win in the ongoing T20I tri-series on Saturday, edging past New Zealand by six wickets in Christchurch. After getting the better of Bangladesh in the opening game, the Men in Green showed their dominance over the 𝔍hosts as well.
Batting first, the Black Caps could hardly step on the gas, mostly because of a brilliant fast bowling by Haris Rauf, who conceded 28 runs and scalped the big wickets of Mark Chapman, James Neesham and Michael🀅 Bracewell.
Devon Conway, Ka☂ne Williamson and Chapman scored 36, 31 and 32 respectively. Their 30+ scores took New Zealand total to 147-8.
Azam – who went on to stay unbeaten on 79 off 53 with 11 fours – after the match said that his rapid 61-run stand with Shadab Khan for the third wicket gave an insight to a tactic they could employ at the upcoming T20 World Cup, with the all-rounder promoted up the order.
“We have a plan to send Shadab up to charge the bowlers, to utilise his skills. He played very well.
“Me and Shadab planned that I play all the way and he will go for his shots,” said the Pakistan skipper.
In the T20I 🃏Tri-series, New Zealand will next play Bangladesh on Sunday (October 9) before meeting Pakistan again on Tuesday (October 11).
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Babar Azam 🔥
What a treat to watch his drives 👏🏻— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat)
🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰❤️
— MAWRA HUSSAIN (@MawraHocane)
👏👏 Dear Pakistani cricket fans! Feel yourself to be blessed for having Babar Azam as your captain. Other teams crave for having matchwinners like Babar Aza🎃m play for their country. 𝔉Such legendary batters who define their own class are born after decades.
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_)
Visiting Players in SENA T20Is
500 runs – 10 Players
500 runs + 50 Avg – Babar Azam*— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket)
Brilliant batting by Babar Azam,playe🔯d with a strike rate of 149 and took PAK to victory. Change in batting order sendin🔯g Shadab at no 4 also helped PAK to achieve the target, well done Pakistan
— Mirza Iqbal Baig (@mirzaiqbal80)
Commanding innings – Babar Azam producing a special innings in a chase for the umpteenth time
— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81)
Babar Azam has now hit the winning shot 5 times in his 🅘T20ಌI career.
Only Pakistani to hit more is Shoaib Malik (10 times). Asif Ali has hit it 4 times while Afridi and Hafeez hav𝐆e hit it 3 times each.
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi)
"Alexa play Haris Rauf"
Alexa : He can't be played he's unplayable— Haroon (@ThisHaroon)
Haris Rauf has got 62 wickets in 49 T20Is, this is the most b🎃y any bowler since debut of Haris Rauf in January 2020. Also, this is jointly the most aggregate wickets by a Pakistani fast bowler after 49 T20Is, Umar Gul also had 62 in 49.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani)
Interesting stat: Haris Rauf has a better econ at the death (last 4 overs) in international T20s than franchise & domestic T👍20s. In T20Is his economy is 8.14. In fra🌳nchise + domestic it is 9.38.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq)
