Mohammad Rizwan created history by setting the record for the most sixes hit by a Pakistani player in T20I on January 14, Sunday. Rizwan achieved this massive feat during the second T20I against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton, which Pakistan lost by 21 runs.
In the first T20I held at Eden Park in Auckland, Rizwan had equalled Mohammad Hafeez's record before surpassing it in the subsequent match in Hamilton. The 31-year-old right-handed batter started his innings by smashing Tim Southee over mid-wicket, when were handed a task to chase down a challenging target of 195.
So far, Rizwan has accumulated a total of 77 sixes from 87 matches, positioning himself to potentially become the first Pakistani batter to achieve 100 maximums in T20I. Rizwan leapfrogged Mohammad Hafeez, who is second on the list with 76 maximums.
In women's cricket, Nida Dar, the second-highest wicket-taker in Women's T20I, holds the record of hitting most sixes for Pakistan, having struck 30 sixes in 141 matches.
However, Rizwan's stint at the crease was short-lived as Adam Milne got the better of him in the very second overs. Milne delivered a ball that moved away from the batter, catching Rizwan off guard. Rizwan, attempting a tentative push, only managed to produce an outside edge, leading to a straightforward catch by Devon Conway.
Rizwan contributed with just 7 off 5 balls before returning to the pavilion. Pakistan, led by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, found themselves lurching at 10/2 in mere 1.3 overs. Fakhar Zaman steadied India's boat with a splendid 25-ball 50 riding on three fours and five sixes to take Pakistan to 97/2 before returning to the hut. Babar Azam too chipped in with a fighting 66 off 43 but his stay at the crease was halted by Adam Sears. After Babar and Fakhar's dismissals wickets keep tumbling for Pakistan which eventually scripted their back to back defeats in the first two T20Is.
Meanwhile, Rizwan is on the verge of becoming the second Pakistani batter to reach 3000 runs in T20I, needing only 171 more runs to achieve this milestone. A crucial member of the Pakistan T20I team, the veteran has accumulated 2829 runs at an impressive average of 47.94 and a strike rate of 127.66. His contributions include one century and 25 half-centuries.
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