ISLAMABAD: Pakistan registered two straight wins in the ongoing tri-series in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Men in Green defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs, followed by beating the Blackcaps by six wickets today.
The win was possible due to an unbeaten 79 by skipper Babar Azam and with this knock, he equalled Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s spectacular world records.
After the bowlers restricted New Zealand to 147 for eight, Pakistan lost Rizwan early for just 4 off 12 balls and three deliveries later Shan Masood was dismissed for a duck. Pakistan promoted Shadab Khan at No.4 and together with Babar, the pair put up a 61-run stand.
Shadab was dismissed for 34 off 22 but Babar continued as he smashed 11 boundaries in his unbeaten 53-ball 79 to help Pakistan go past the target with ten balls to spare.
Babar scored up his 28th T20I fifty and hence leveled Kohli for reaching the mark in the same number of innings. This was also Babar’s 12th half-century score while chasing which is now the joint third-highest by a batter in the format. He equaled India captain Rohit and now only stands behind Kohli (19) and Australia’s Warner.
Eleven of Babar’s twelve fifties while chasing have come in a winning cause, now the joint second-highest alongside Warner. Kohli has 15 and leads the list. Pakistan will now face New Zealand on October 11.
