Babar Azam surpasses MS Dhoni with half-century in 2nd SA vs PAK 2024 ODI
Babar Azam scored a defiant 73 off 95 at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday, December 19, in the second ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa. The right-handed batter struck seven fours in his 136-minute stay as Pakistan posted 329 after being sent into bat.
With his half-century, Babar went past Indian legend MS Dhoni on the list of batters with most fifty-plus scores in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries across formats. Heading into the Cape Town ODI, Dhoni and Babar were tied with 38 fifty-plus scores each.
After being sent into bat, Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafique for a duck to Marco Jansen, while Kwena Maphaka dismissed Saim Ayub for 25. Babar and Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan (80 off 82), though, added 115 for the third wicket. The partnership was broken when Babar was brilliantly caught by Aiden Markram off Andile Phehlukwayo.
Rizwan was the next to go, smartly caught by Maphaka in his follow through. The Pakistan captain struck seven fours and three sixes in his impressive knock. Kamran Ghulam then clobbered 63 off 32, with the aid of four fours and five sixes, while Salman Agha hit 33 off 30 as Pakistan crossed 325.
For South Africa, Maphaka claimed 4-72 from 10 overs and Jansen 3-71. In their chase, the hosts were struggling at 209-7 after 38 overs. Heinrich Klaasen was batting on 66, but many other batters perished after getting starts.
Babar breaks drought with half-century in Cape Town
Babar's knock of 73 in the second one-dayer against South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday was a much-needed one for the former Pakistan captain. His last ODI half-century came against New Zealand in Bengaluru in the 2023 World Cup in November last year, when he scored 66* off 63.
The 30-year-old has been struggling for runs across formats. In Test matches in 2024, he has scored 148 runs in eight innings at an average of 18.50. In one-dayers this year, Babar has 156 runs in five innings, averaging 58.66, but with a poor strike rate of 77.53. He has done reasonably well in T20Is, scoring 738 runs in 23 innings at an average of 33.54 and a strike rate of 133.21, with six fifties.