Pakistan’s Babar Azam’s Big Bash League (BBL) debut with the bat was short-lived as he was dismissed for a single-digit score by Perth Scorchers’ Brody Couch.
Perth’s bounce troubles Babar
In the BBL 2025-26 opener, Babar faced three consecutive dot deliveries. He got off the mark off the fourth ball of third over. He sliced it over the covers and managed a couple of runs. On the next ball, he went for a flat-batted pull shot. The ball hit the toe off the bat and Laurie Evans moved to his left to take an easy catch.
Sydney Sixers lose 4 wickets in powerplay overs
Babar did not look comfortable on the bouncy track of Perth Stadium. Earlier, Aaron Hardie dismissed Daniel Hughes for a three-ball duck. In the fifth over, Moises Henriques was run out for a single-digit score. Couch continued to strike in the powerplay overs and got the wicket of wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe. He scored 28 runs from 18 balls. Sydney Sixers lost four wickets for 41 runs.
2 ducks in a fifty in tri-series
Babar has had a decent run in T20Is since his return. From five games in the tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, he scored 127 runs at an average of 31.73 and strike rate of 112.38. His previous half-century was against Zimbabwe. He recorded two ducks in the series as well, one each against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Playing XIs for BBL opener
Earlier, Perth Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Perth Scorchers Playing XI: Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen (wk), Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner(c), Laurie Evans, Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Joel Paris, Brody Couch, Mahli Beardman.
Sydney Sixers Playing XI: Babar Azam, Daniel Hughes, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Lachlan Shaw, Jack Edwards, Ben Dwarshuis, Joel Davies, Charles Stobo, Mitchell Perry, Todd Murphy.