Babar Azam's Pakistan become first team with 100 T20I wins
An unbeaten 74 by Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan beat South Africa in the first T20I at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The visitors chased down 189 in what turned out to be a final-over thriller. With this, Pakistan have become the first men's team to register 100 wins in T20I cricket (excluding Super Overs). Here are the records broken.
How did the match pan out?
Batting first, SA were off to a flier, with Janneman Malan and Aiden Markram taking charge. While Malan got dismissed on 24, the latter made a well-compiled 51 (32). Meanwhile, Heinrich Klaasen and Pite van Biljon powered SA to 188/6 in 20 overs. Rizwan emerged as the lone warrior for Pakistan as they claimed a four-wicket victory. Faheem Ashraf too fired a 14-ball 30.
100 T20I wins for Pakistan
Pakistan have registered 100 T20I wins from 164 games (Lost: 59, Tied: 3, Abandoned: 2). Notably, arch-rivals India hold the second spot with 88 wins in 142 games. They have lost 47 matches (3 tied, 4 abandoned). The likes of Australia (in 136 matches), South Africa (128), and New Zealand (145) have 71 victories each in T20 Internationals.
Pakistan's highest successful run-chase in men's T20Is
In the series opener, Pakistan also registered their highest successful run-chase (189/6) in men's T20I cricket. Their previous highest was against Australia, when Pakistan chased down 187/4 at Harare in 2018. This is followed by 178/2 vs Bangladesh, Pallekele, 2012.
Another terrific knock by Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan has been in sublime form this year. In the first T20I against SA, he played another match-winning knock. He brought up his third T20I fifty in 34 balls, and finished with a 50-ball 74*. Rizwan is presently the third-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket this year. He owns 271 runs from four T20Is, a tally that includes 1 hundred and 2 fifties.
Second-fastest to 6,000 T20 runs
During the match, Pakistan skipper Babar completed 6,000 runs in T20 cricket. He reached the milestone in his 165th innings, the fastest among Pakistani players and second-fastest overall after West Indies' Chris Gayle (162).
Markram, Klaasen fired for SA
Earlier in the match, Markram set-up the foundation of South African innings. He slammed his maiden T20I fifty, scoring 51 off 32 deliveries. Later, skipper Klaasen led from the front when the hosts got reduced to 98/3. He smashed a 28-ball 50 with the help of 2 fours and 4 sixes. This was his third fifty in T20Is.
