Babar Azam beats Chris Gayle to massive landmark during SA vs PAK 2024 2nd T20I
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam failed to score big in the second T20I against South Africa but achieved a milestone, leaving behind Chris Gayle. The right-hander did get off to a promising start but could not convert it into a big score. He ended up scoring 31 runs off 20 deliveries as Pakistan batted first.
Despite not being able to score big, Babar created history as he beat West Indian legend and 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle. The massive landmark that Babar achieved is becoming the fastest player to breach the 11,000-run mark in T20s. Gayle held the record previously.
Courtesy of his 21-ball 30, Babar now has 11,020 runs in T20 cricket, having played a total of 298 innings. Previously, Gayle held the record for being the fastest player to reach 11,000 T20 runs, doing so in 314 innings. The 'Universe Boss' has the record for the most T20 runs, having amassed 14,562 runs in his career.
Babar Azam, now with 11020 runs, joins 10 other players to have crossed the mark in T20 cricket - Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Alex Hales, Virat Kohli, David Warner, Jos Buttler, Rohit Sharma, Aaron Finch, and James Vince.
Babar's 11020 runs have come at an average of 43.38 and a strike rate of 129.35, including 11 hundreds and 90 half-centuries.
Babar Azam's poor form concerning as Pakistan lose T20I series
While Babar Azam managed to beat Chris Gayle, his form continued to bother Pakistan. He scored just 30 runs off 21 deliveries before being dismissed in the second T20I, failing to convert a start.
Pakistan put up a total of 206/5 but hosts South Africa chased it down comfortably with seven wickets to spare. In the first T20I, Pakistan were chasing a target of 184 runs and Babar was sent back for a four-ball duck.
The visitors lost the opening T20I as well and as a result, have lost the series 0-2, with the third and final T20I to be played on Saturday, December 14. Pakistan will hope for Babar to score big as they look to avoid a whitewash.