Pakistan skipper Babar Azam on Thursday turned the second batter from Asian nation after former India captain Virat Kohli to finish 12,000 worldwide runs. However, Babar didn’t topple Kohli’s report in reaching the landmark in least variety of innings. Babar Azam achieved this feat in 277 worldwide innings whereas Kohli had reached this landmark in 276 innings.
Babar Azam achieved this feat throughout his 49-run knock within the first ODI in opposition to New Zealand at Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Babar and Kohli are simply behind England’s Joe Root, who’s on the fourth spot (275 inns) within the record of quickest batsmen to achieve the 12000-run mark. West Indian legend Vivian Richards, is at the moment on the high of the record having achieved this feat in simply 255 innings.
Pakistan’s all-format captain has scored 3,696 runs from 85 innings in 47 Tests, 4,862 runs from 94 innings in 96 ODIs, and three,485 from 98 innings in 104 T20Is. Babar holds the report for being the quickest Asian batter to achieve 10,000 and 11,000 worldwide runs forward of Kohli.
Here is record of quickest batters to 12,000 worldwide runs…
Vivian Richards (West Indies) – 255 innings
Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 264 innings
Steve Smith (Australia) – 269 innings
Joe Root (England) – 275 innings
Virat Kohli (India) – 276 innings
Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 277 innings
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman smashed his ninth ODI century and powered Pakistan to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand within the first ODI on Thursday. Fakhar, the left-handed opener, made 117 off 114 balls and guided Pakistan to 291-5 with greater than an over to spare for a 1-0 lead within the five-match collection.
WATCH Babar Azam in motion in opposition to New Zealand in first ODI HERE…
Skipper @babarazam258 stamps his authority with an emphatic hit _#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/CCZgrELlCS
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2023
Fakhar’s opening associate Imam-ul-Haq laid the strong basis of the run-chase by scoring 60 in a century opening stand and captain Babar Azam additionally notched 49 in a dominant Pakistan run-chase on a gradual wicket. Earlier, quick bowler Naseem Shah (2-29) bowled brilliantly each with the brand new and outdated ball to restrict New Zealand at 288-7 regardless of Daryl Mitchell hitting a career-best 113 off 115 balls after Babar received the toss and elected to discipline.
“This was a team effort, we wanted to start (the series) well,” Babar stated. “Credit goes to the fast bowlers for the way we restricted them in the end. It feels good to see players execute their plans. The way Naseem bowled put the pressure on them and … then the way Fakhar and Imam played, then the innings Fakhar and I built together, was great.”
