Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan stayed till the end in the run chase on a tricky New York track against Canada. Chasing 107, Rizwan did not take risks and remained unbeaten for 53. He got to his half-century in the 17th over from 52 balls and broke the record for slowest fifty in the history of T20 World Cup 2024.
The record was recently broken by South Africa’s David Miller who scored a half-century against the Netherlands from 50 balls at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Before this edition of T20 World Cup, the record belonged to West Indies' Devon Smith who scored a half-century from 49 balls against Bangladesh in 2007 edition. Australia's David Hussey scored a fifty from 49 balls as well against England in 2010.
More records for Rizwan
This was Rizwan's 30th fifty-plus score as an opener in T20Is. He achieved it from 71 innings. He shares the record with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma who has 30 such scores from 118 innings while opening the innings in T20Is.
Rizwan equalled Babar Azam's record for most fifties for Pakistan in T20 World Cups. This was Rizwan's fifty half-century in his T20 World Cup career.
Patient knock
Rizwan's first boundary of the innings came in the sixth over. He hit the first maximum of his knock in the 16th over. On the last ball of the 17th over, he got to his fifty with three runs. He celebrated the fifty in his typical style and skipper Babar applauded his knock from the dugout. Rizwan and Babar shared a crucial 63-run partnership for the second wicket.
Rizwan’s performance in first two games
In the previous match against India, Rizwan was criticised for losing his wicket to Jasprit Bumrah right before the slog overs. He scored 31 runs from 44 balls in the unsuccessful run chase. In Pakistan’s tournament opener he was dismissed for a single-digit score.
Another must-win game for Pakistan
Pakistan will take on Ireland in their final group stage clash. However, they want USA to lose to India and Ireland in order to stay alive in the tournament.
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