Azam fireworks, spinners take Pakistan to 30
DUBAI: Pakistan swept New Zealand 30 in the twenty20 series with a 47run win in the third and final match yesterday, as Babar Azam became the fastest player to reach 1000 runs in the T20 format.
Azam smashed 79 off 58 balls and Mohammad Hafeez made an unbeaten 53 in 34 deliveries as Pakistan reached 166 for three after captain Sarfraz Ahmed chose to bat.
When the 24yearold Azam reached 48, the Pakistan opener became the quickest player to reach the 1000run milestone, in just his 26th T20 match.
The previous record was held by Indian captain Virat Kohli, who achieved the feat in 2015 in 27 T20s.
‘‘I knew I had broken Kohli’s record,’’ said Azam, who hit seven fours and two sixes.
In reply, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a robust 60 from 38 balls before the tourists crumbled against Pakistan’s spinners and were bowled out for 119 in 16.5 overs.
‘‘A brilliant team effort from us,’’ Ahmed said after leading Pakistan to its 11th successive T20 series victory, a run that also included a 30 win against Australia last month. ‘‘We needed 160plus, and our batsmen did it with Babar Azam and Hafeez playing magnificent innings.
‘‘Throughout the series we’ve taken wickets with the new ball, and we’ve done well with the bat, too.’’
Legspinner Shadab Khan took three for 30 and ignited the collapse by removing Williamson and Glenn Phillips (26) in one over as New Zealand lost its last eight wickets for 23 runs.
Leftarm spinner Imad Wasim (two for 28) claimed the wickets of Mark Chapman and Tim Seifert in successive deliveries before debutant fast bowler Waqas Maqsood (two for 21) ended New Zealand’s chase by taking the last two wickets.
‘‘At the halfway stage, on that surface, that was a very good total from Pakistan,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘They’ve very good bowling attack, and we’ll try to keep learning from them in these conditions.’’
Azam and Hafeez propelled Pakistan to its highest total of the series with a clinical 94run secondwicket stand off 64 balls.
Hafeez was ruthless against Ish Sodhi (none for 22 in two overs), smashing the legspinner for two straight successive sixes, and he also hit four boundaries in his unbeaten half century.
Azam kept the scoreboard ticking with his wristy strokeplay before holing out in the deep in the 17th over.
Shoaib Malik then played a minor cameo of 19 off nine balls and guided Pakistan to a challenging total.
The teams now meet in three ODIs, the first in Abu Dhabi starting at midnight tomorrow. —AP