In the second T20I of the New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2023, the hosts got the better of the visitors at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Batting first, the Men in Green set a target of 193 for the Blackcaps to chase. Pakistan’s batting performance was led by their captain Babar Azam, who scored an impressive 101 runs off just 58 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan also contributed with 50 runs off 34 balls. For New Zealand, Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra picked up a wicket each.
In reply, the touring side got off to a decent start, but lost wickets at regular intervals. The only standout performance with the bat for the Blackcaps came from Mark Chapman, who scored 65 runs o🔜ff 40 balls. The rest of the batting line-up failed to make a significant impact as they finished at 154/7 in their 20 overs.
Haris Rauf was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, taking four wickets for 27 runs in his four overs. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim also chipped in with a wicket each. The hosts won the match by 38 runs and Babar was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his impressive century.
“I am very happy with my performance in this match. There was a bit of help for the fast bowlers early on but Rizwan and myself saw that period through, built a partnership and then Iftikhar and myself finished it off. We utilized the last five overs and got to a very good total. Losing wickets back to back is a concern and we will discuss these things, it does put pressure on the batters when you lose wickets in clusters. We have very good fast bowlers and they performed brilliantly,” said Babar after the game.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Star of the show 🌟 is the player of the match fo🍬r his epic ton 💯🏆 |
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB)
Always special in front of the home crowd. 🙌
And another solid performance by the boys!
Focus already on Monday now.
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258)
BABAR AZAM!! Remember the Name. What an Innings,♒ truly a King!! 👑
Just look at thꦕe balls he faced while moving from a 50 to the big 100.ღ 192, a huge score on the board!! 🏏🔥
— Momin Saqib (@mominsaqib)
Babar Azam today:
First 50 runs from 36 balls
Second 50 runs from 22 balls— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
T20I hundred in 2021
T20I hundred in 2022
T20I hundred in 2023Babar Azam leading Pakistan from front – becomes the first captain ever to score 3 T20I hundreds – What a player.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Babar Azam is the greatest batsman Pakistan have ever produced. F♓rom 65* 𒁏off 46 to 101 * off 58. 36 runs in last 12 balls. Whoever thinks Babar Azam isn’t a T20 material, he is either biased or blind.
— KH SAKIB 🇧🇩 (@Crickettalkss)
Man Man Man!!!!
100* Comes For King Baba🌠r, Babar Azam Coꦆmpleted His 3rd T20I Century.
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888)
//twitter.com/Harixkhanxz/status/1647𒁃296180886355981
Babar, Zainab and Urooj collectively grilling Babar Azam's critics and strike-rate brigade 😅♥️♥️
Keh bhi s൩aktay hain: Babar has literally sent the haters back to their slums 💚
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan)
King Babar Azam 🔥🔥🔥
3rd T20I Century for King Babaꦓr Azam taꦦke a bow 🙇♂️— King Babar Azam Army (@kingbabararmy)
The crowd in Lahore chant his name…and he delivers! Babar Azam reaches his THIRD T20 international century with a boundary off the final delivery of the innings! The King reigns supreme 👑
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz)