Babar Azam's hundred helps Pakistan win 3rd T20I against SA
A breathtaking century by skipper Babar Azam helped Pakistan chase down a record 204 against South Africa in the third T20I. Opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan also fired an unbeaten 73 as the visitors registered a nine-wicket victory. Pakistan, who won the ODI series, have gained a 2-1 lead in the four-match T20I series, with one game to go. Here are the records broken.
How did the match pan out?
SA were off to a flier after Pakistan elected to bowl. Openers Janneman Malan (55) and Aiden Markram (63) shared a century-stand. A quickfire 34* by Rassie van der Dussen powered SA to 203/5 in 20 overs. Pakistan made the run-chase one-sided, with openers Rizwan and Babar adding 197 runs. Babar slammed his maiden T20I ton as Pakistan won with two overs to spare.
Babar shatters records with his match-winning hundred
Pakistan skipper Babar led from the front in a mammoth run-chase. He slammed his maiden hundred in T20I cricket, and became the third Pakistani player with a T20I ton. Babar ended up scoring 122 off 59 balls with the help of 15 fours and 4 sixes. This has become the highest individual score in T20I cricket by a Pakistani batsman.
Babar attains these feats
Babar has registered the joint-second-highest individual score while chasing in T20Is. Caribbean opener Evin Lewis still tops this list (125* vs India, 2017). Meanwhile, the former now also has the highest score in a T20I chase by a captain.
Highest partnership for any wicket in a T20I chase
Rizwan and Babar shared a 197-run stand for the first wicket. This has become the highest partnership for any wicket in a T20I chase, surpassing the 171-run opening stand between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson (vs Pakistan, 2016). The duo also registered the highest partnership in T20s while chasing, going past 194 between Aaron Finch and Jason Roy (for Surrey against Middlesex, 2018).
A look at the other records
Pakistan have recorded their highest successful run-chase in T20Is, surpassing 189, which they chased down in the first game. Babar and Rizwan shared the highest partnership (197) for Pakistan (any wicket). In fact, this was the first-ever 150+ partnership for Pakistan in T20Is. SA's Markram has become only the second player with three consecutive 50+ scores for South Africa in men's T20Is.
