DUBLIN: Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam on Friday, equalled India’s Virat Kohli’s record of most T20I half-centuries during his side’s first T20I against Ireland.
Babar now has 38 fifty-plus scores to his name, which came in 108 innings, one less than Kohli. He has also scored three centuries.
Most fifty-plus scores in T20Is
Babar Azam: 38 in 108 innings
Virat Kohl: 38 in 109 innings
Rohit Sharma: 34 in 143 innings
Mohammad Rizwan: 27 in 81 innings
David Warner: 27 in 103 innings
Notably, Babar achieved the milestone with his anchoring 57-run knock in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series against Ireland.
His fifty, coupled with Iftikhar Ahmed’s late onslaught propelled Pakistan to 182/6.
Put into bat first, Pakistan’s new opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan (1) and Saim Ayub failed to give them a steady start as the former got run out in the second over, courtesy of Herry Tector’s direct hit.
Following the early blow, Pakistan captain Babar Azam joined Saim in the middle and launched recovery.
The duo batted sensibly and added 85 runs for the second wicket until the left-handed opener faltered.
Saim fell rigorously short of his maiden T20I hundred and walked back in the 12th over after scoring a brisk 45. His 29-ball knock featured four boundaries and three sixes.
Babar switched gears after Saim’s dismissal and soon brought up his 38th T20I century in 39 deliveries.
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He, however, failed to get going and miscued Craig Young’s short-pitched delivery to Mark Adair at long-on.
Babar Azam remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a 43-ball 57 with the help of eight boundaries and a six.
Pakistan then lost two more wickets in quick succession as both Azam Khan and Shadab Khan fell for a duck and thus consequently slipped to 123/5 in 15.2 overs.
Coming out to bat at No.7, Iftikhar Ahmed launched the attack on Ireland’s bowlers and bolstered Pakistan’s total.
He smashed three boundaries and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 37 off 15 deliveries.
Iftikhar also put together an important partnership with Fakhar Zaman, who scored a scratchy 20.
Craig Young spearheaded Ireland’s bowling charge with 2/27 in his four overs while Adair and Gareth Delany chipped in with a wicket apiece.
READ: Iftikhar, Babar propel Pakistan to 182/6 against Ireland in first T20I