Pakistan suffered a 46-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their first T20I in Auckland on January 12. Pakistan failed to chase down New Zealand's 227-run target as they were bowled out for 180. However, Pakistani batting maestro Babar Azam bagged a towering milestone in T20Is, though he couldn't surpass Virat Kohli's all-time record despite shining with the bat in the T20I series opener. Former Pakistan captain Babar became second-fastest batter to amassed 3500 runs in T20Is after dazzling with an impressive fifty in Auckland which came in Pakistan's losing cause. Babar also became the first Pakistani batter to do so. He stands as the second fastest to reach this mark, achieving it in 99 innings.
On the other hand, Kohli holds the record for the fastest to 3500 runs, having done so in just 96 innings. Babar follows closely behind. Also included in this achievement is New Zealand's Martin Guptill, who reached 3500 runs in 118 innings, and India's captain Rohit Sharma, who attained this milestone in 126 innings.
Fewest Innings to 3500 Runs in T20Is:
96 innings – Virat Kohli (India)
99 innings – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
118 innings – Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
126 innings – Rohit Sharma (India)
Talking about the match, Pakistan chose to field first, yet their bowling performance was not up to par. Their bowlers struggled, appearing ineffective against the New Zealand batters. Key contributions from Fin Allen (34), Kane Williamson (57), Daryll Mitchell (61), and Mark Chapman (26) propelled the hosts to a substantial total of 226 runs. In reply, Pakistani batters began well but couldn't capitalise on their starts. However, Babar stood out as the notable exception, striving to extend the game as much as possible. Batting at no.3, Babar took some time to settle in, initially looking uncertain.
However, once he found his rhythm, his batting was a delight to watch. He executed splendid shots throughout his innings, maintaining stability at one end while wickets fell at the other. Lacking sufficient support from his teammates, Babar emerged as the solitary standout in his team's effort.
As wickets tumbled at the other end, Babar assumed responsibility and aggressively targeted the New Zealand bowlers. He fiercely hit the ball around the field, almost single-handedly keeping Pakistan in the chase. Babar reached his half-century and then aimed to hit every ball for maximum runs. Unfortunately, he couldn't sustain the momentum and was dismissed shortly after. He scored a commendable 57 runs off 35 balls, becoming the only player from his team to surpass 30 runs in the match. With a striking rate exceeding 162, Babar's innings included 2 fours and 2 sixes. Despite his efforts, Pakistan faced a disheartening 46-run defeat, being all out for 180 runs. New Zealand's Tim Southee played a pivotal role in concluding the innings, claiming 4 wickets and reaching a personal milestone of 150 wickets in T20Is.
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