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Babar Azam scored his maiden Lanka Premier League (LPL) century in Colombo Strikers' thrilling last-over win over Galle Titans at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Often criticised for his strike rate in the format, Azam batted with over 175 strike rate in the run chase of 189. In the end, Azam's countryman Mohammad Nawaz provided the finishing touches to ensure that his skipper's century does not go in vain.
Stellar opening partnerships
In the run chase of 189, Azam got off the mark with three consecutive boundaries against Kasun Rajitha. Pathum Nissanka attacked from the other end as well to put pressure on Galle’s bowlers. At the halfway stage, the Strikers were 93/0. Azam had already mesmerised the Pallekele crowd with his exquisite cover drives. Azam got to his half-century from 34 balls. In the same over, Nissanka got to the milestone from 35 balls.
Azam got to his half-century from 34 balls. In the same over, Nissanka got to the milestone from 35 balls. With the required run rate climbing up, Azam saw the opportunity to attack Akila Dananjaya. He hit him for two sixes and a four employing the sweep shot for maximums.
Fernando struggles
Nuwanidu Fernando could not hit a single boundary and it added pressure on the opener. From needing 24 runs from the last 18 balls, they needed 21 from the last two overs. In the 18th over, Shamsi got the wicket of Fernando who was caught at long-on in an attempt to hit the ball out of the park. He scored just eight runs from 13 balls.
Babar's ton
In the penultimate over, Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava made a good comeback. Azam was able to hit only one boundary which helped him score his maiden LPL century from 57 balls. Ngarava conceded just seven runs, leaving 14 for the final over. Expensive in powerplay overs, Rajitha turned the game upside down with Azam's wicket who found Shakib Al Hasan at long-on. He scored 104 runs from 59 balls including eight fours and five sixes. Azam is also the second batter after Chris Gayle to hit 10 centuries in T20 cricket.
Last-over heroics
With 14 runs needed off the last five balls, Nawaz came in to bat. He and Chamika Karunaratne ran hard between the wickets and took a couple of doubles. Then Nawaz went for a big one and cleared the boundary on the leg side. He followed it up with a boundary to seal the win with one ball to go. Strikers won the match by eight wickets in a nerve-wracking run chase.
Seifert hits fifty
Earlier, Strikers skipper Niroshan Dickwella won the toss and opted to bowl first. Openers Lasith Croospulle (19-ball 36) and Shevon Daniel (31-ball 49) shared an 87-run opening partnership. Bhanuka Rajapaksa failed to get going and scored 30 runs from 31 balls before getting bowled by Naseem Shah. Then wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert's 35-ball 54 helped Titans post 188/3.
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