Their opening pair is said to be one of the best in the world. But in T20 World Cup in Super Twelve in 5 matches, the duo scored a total of 91 runs. The number of runs scored by the two in each match is given above.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not going to like these small numbers, neither are Pakistan fans. Big runs were due from Babar-Rizwan duo. And the semi-final stage was ideal to settle that debt.
The opening pair of Babar-Rizwan chose that 'ideal' stage to return to the run. After New Zealand batted first and scored 152 for 4 in the T20 World Cup semi-final in Sydney today, Pakistan looked to the pair.
Because, if the opening pair does not get runs, Pakistan's middle order may come under pressure. And there are examples of the middle order collapsing under pressure. It is not unknown to Rizwan and Babar either. And so the pair of 105 runs in 12.4 overs laid the foundation for Pakistan to reach the final. This opening pair played a major role in Pakistan's 7-wicket win over New Zealand.
Babar scored 53 runs off 42 balls before being dismissed in the 13th over by Trent Boult. Of course, he can thank Kiwi wicketkeeper Devon Conway for this. Conway dropped his catch before the Pakistan captain could score any runs. If that catch was done, not only the story of Babar, but also the story of the match could have changed.
Babar himself returned to runs with this innings of 126.19 strike rate. In the previous five Super Twelve matches, his score reached double figures only once (0, 4, 4, 6 and 25). Today's innings is definitely a relief for Babar ahead of the final.
Rizwan was dismissed in the 17th over, when Pakistan were 21 runs from 18 balls to win. Seeing the pair of two in the run chase, I never thought that Pakistan could be in danger. Mohammad Haris-Shaan Masood later picked up a great victory by holding on to the batting.
Babar-Rizwan has also created a great record in T20 World Cup with the pair of hundreds today. Babar-Rizwan became the first pair to make a three-century partnership in T20 World Cup. They have a pair of centuries against India and Namibia in the last Twenty20 World Cup. Their 152-run stand against India was the highest ever in a men's T20 opener.
Not only that, it was Babar-Rizwan's ninth century partnership in T20 Internationals. In the history of international T20, no other pair has scored so many centuries.
Today, it was understood that Pakistan will play the final in Melbourne after the two scored hundreds in 12.4 overs. How? After Babar-Rizwan's century partnership in T20, Pakistan has never lost before.
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