Pakistan’s Babar Azam became the fastest player to score 1,000 T20I runs, securing the record in the second T20I against New Zealand in Dubai.
Babar achieved the record in his 26th T20I innings (26 matches) after he and Mohammad Hafeez had added 94 for the second wicket.
Babar Azam’s innings came to end thanks to superb fielding by Tim Southee, sprinting in from the long-on boundary to take a good, low catch off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme. Azam’s 79 came off 58 balls and included seven fours and two sixes (S/R 136.20).
Hafeez ended the innings on 53 not out off 34 balls (four fours, two sixes, S/R 155.88), after Shoaib Malik had a late flurry to score 19 off nine balls (three fours, S/R 211.11).
Pakistan ended on 166-3 off their 20 overs, with the wickets shared between Colin de Grandhomme (2-41, econ 10.25) and Lockie Ferguson (1-29, econ 7.25).
In reply, New Zealand were all out for 119 off 16.5 overs, Kane Williamson top-scoring with 60 off 38 balls (8 fours, two sixes, S/R 157.89).
Shadab Khan took 3-30, Waqas Maqsood 2-21 and Imad Wasim 2-28.
Photo: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images
