Babar seals top ODI spot, helps Pakistan rout SA
Babar Azam hit a sensational 122 from 59 balls to lead Pakistan to 205-1 for a resounding nine-wicket win over South Africa and a 2-1 lead in their Twenty20 series on Wednesday.
Babar marked the day he unseated Virat Kohli to become the top-ranked ODI batsman in the world with another brilliant limited-overs innings, albeit in the shortest format this time.
“Pakistan captain Azam has ended Kohli’s long reign at the top of the ICC Men’s ODI player rankings,” the ICC said in a statement from its Dubai headquarters.
Azam knocked 103, 32 and 94 in a three-match series in South Africa which Pakistan won 2-1 last week.
By ending Kohli’s supremacy that lasted more than three years, Azam has followed compatriots Zaheer Abbas (1983-84), Javed Miandad (198889), and Mohammad Yousuf (2003) as the number one ODI batsman.
In Tests, Azam’s best position was fifth and he is currently ranked sixth, while in T20IS he has previously been number one and now ranks third, the ICC added.
“This is another milestone in my career,” Azam was quoted as saying by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“I will savour the moment, as it has come after I was first appointed the white-ball captain, and that too on the back of my performances that helped Pakistan become the first Asian side to win two ODI series in South Africa.”
The Pakistan captain opened the batting and blasted his way to a century as Pakistan chased down a seemingly testing target of 204 with ease.
The tourists romped home in 18 overs, with Mohammad Rizwan crashing 73 from 47 balls at the other end after opening with Babar. Their partnership of 197 from 107 balls ripped the game away from a South African team that felt it was in position for victory after posting its own strong score of 203-5 in 20 overs.
Babar fell just two balls from the end trying to ramp a delivery from Lizaad Williams over third man and edging it to wicketkeeper Heinrich Klassen.
That denied Pakistan the world record for the highest successful chase in T20s without losing a wicket.
Fakhar Zaman smashed two fours off the next two balls to end it and ensure Pakistan can’t lose the series with one game to play.
Pakistan also won the ODI series in South Africa.
Babar has 186 runs from three innings at an average of 62.00 in the T20 series and averaged 76.00 in the ODI series. Earlier Wednesday he ended Kohli’s more than three-year stay at the top of the ODI rankings.
South Africa appeared to have exposed Pakistan’s decision to bowl first at Supersport Park when openers Aiden Markram (63) and Janneman Malan (55) made half-centuries and the host posted its highest total ever against Pakistan.
But Babar stroked 15 fours and four sixes to underline his scintillating form and see Pakistan to a highly impressive victory. —