New Delhi: Star Pakistan batter Babar Azam scripted history by becoming the fastest batter to complete 11,000 runs in T20 cricket. Babar broke the record held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle as he beat the likes of David Warner and Virat Kohli to the elusive feat. He achieved the milestone during the 2nd T20I between South Africa and Pakistan in Centurion on Saturday.
Babar came out to bat at number three during Pakistan’s innings in the 2nd T20I against South Africa and went on to score 31 runs off 20 balls to play his part in helping the visitors post a huge total of 206/5 on the board in 20 overs. His 31 off 20 balls was laced with 3 fours and a solitary six. Babar, who made his T20 debut in December 2012, has 11020 runs to his name 298 innings in 309 matches played in the shortest format so far.
Babar went past Gayle, who held the record for being the fastest to 11,000 runs in T20 cricket having achieved the milestone in 314 innings. However, Babar managed to beat the West Indies legend by getting to the milestone in just 298 innings. Babar became the first batter in history to complete 11,000 runs in T20 cricket in less than 300 innings.
Former Australia opener Warner is third on the elite list having reached the milestone of 11,000 runs in T20s in 330 innings followed by Kohli, who took 337 innings to achieve the feat. Babar became only the 2nd Pakistan batter after Shoaib Malik and the 11th overall to reach the milestone.
Fastest batters to 11,000 runs in T20s
Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 298 innings
Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 314 innings
David Warner (Australia) – 330 innings
Virat Kohli (India) – 337 innings
One of the most consistent batters for Pakistan across formats, Babar currently has 4223 runs for the Men in Green in 128 T20Is at an average of over 39 and a strike rate of 129.22, including 3 centuries and 36 fifties. He is Pakistan’s leading run-getter of all time in T20Is and is only behind Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (4231) in the list of highest run-getters of all time in the format.
South Africa beat Pakistan by 7 wickets in 2nd T20I
South Africa defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets in the 2nd T20I to bag their second win on the trot and seal the three-match series with an unassailable 2-0 lead. The Proteas rode on a sublime century from opener Reeza Hendricks and a brilliant half-century from Rassie van der Dussen to chase down the target of 207 runs with three balls to spare.
Hendricks slammed a quickfire 117 off 63 balls laced with 10 sixes and 7 fours while Van der Dussen hammered an unbeaten 66 off 38 balls studded with 5 sixes and 3 fours as the duo took the Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners en route to a successful chase for South Africa.
Pakistan star batter Babar Azam surpassed the likes of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli to create a new world record in T20 cricket. Babar scored 31 off 20 balls in the 2nd T20I between South Africa and Pakistan in Centurion on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
