• Sportzyverse
• Cricket news
• 05/26/2024
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In the second T20I at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Pakistan’s Babar Azam achieved a significant milestone, overtaking India’s Rohit Sharma to become the second-leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals (T20Is). Despite Babar’s commendable effort, Pakistan fell to England by 23 runs, giving England a 1-0 lead in the four-match series after the first game was washed out.

Babar’s Performance and Milestone

Babar Azam scored 32 runs off 26 balls, striking at a rate of 123.08 with four boundaries. This knock allowed him to surpass Rohit Sharma on the T20I run-scoring charts. Babar’s total T20I runs now position him behind only Virat Kohli, who leads with 4037 runs from 117 matches. Babar’s achievement marks another highlight in his illustrious career, emphasising his consistency and skill in the shortest format of the game.

Reflecting on the match, Babar praised his bowlers for their performance, noting that they managed to restrict England to a par score. However, he pointed out the lack of substantial partnerships in Pakistan’s batting lineup as a critical factor in their loss. Babar mentioned his partnership with Fakhar Zaman as a key moment in the innings, which unfortunately could not be capitalised on further.

“It was a par score, our bowlers bowled very well. In the batting, there were moments, but we didn’t finish well. Small partnership between me and Fakhar and later on, there was no big partnership,” Babar said in his post-match comments.

Team Strategy and Flexibility

Babar also emphasised the adaptability and defined roles within the team, highlighting their flexibility in dealing with different match situations. He expressed confidence in the team’s approach and reiterated that a longer stay at the crease by him and Fakhar could have potentially changed the match’s outcome.

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“We are flexible, everyone knows their role. We have decided each player’s role. If you are not in good form, we are flexible. The way Fakhar dominated after wickets fell… if me and Fakhar had batted for three more overs, it would have been a different ball game,” he added.

Babar Azam’s achievement of becoming the second-leading run-scorer in T20Is is a testament to his prowess and consistency in the format. Despite Pakistan’s loss, his performance and leadership remain key assets for the team as they navigate the series against England.