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Pakistan‘s star batter Babar Azam once again cemented his place among cricket’s elite by achieving a remarkable milestone during the ODI Tri-nation Series final against New Zealand at the National Bank Stadium.
An unparalleled achievement in ODI cricket: Matches Hashim Amla’s milestone
In a defining moment for Pakistan cricket, Babar equaled the legendary Hashim Amla’s record as the fastest batter to reach 6000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). This historic feat was accomplished in just 123 innings, a record previously held solely by Amla. With this milestone, Babar has reaffirmed his dominance in world cricket, joining an elite group of batters known for their sheer consistency and brilliance in the 50-over format.
Babar’s journey to 6000 ODI runs has been nothing short of phenomenal. The Pakistan captain needed just 10 more runs before the match to reach this milestone, and he did so in style, dispatching a beautifully timed boundary off Jacob Duffy in the seventh over of the innings. This moment not only etched his name into cricket’s record books but also demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure in crucial encounters.
While Amla set the record in 123 innings, the fact that Babar has matched it speaks volumes about his consistency, adaptability, and hunger for runs in the ODI format. This feat places him ahead of other modern-day greats, including Virat Kohli, who took 136 innings, and Kane Williamson, who reached the milestone in 139 innings.
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Babar Azam’s legacy in Pakistan’s cricket history
Babar is no stranger to breaking records, having already established himself as the fastest batter to score 5000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 97 innings, a record that surpassed some of the greatest names in cricket history. With his latest achievement, he now becomes the 11th Pakistani batter to cross the 6000-run mark in ODIs, further solidifying his status as one of the country’s all-time greats.
Among Pakistan’s leading run-scorers in ODIs, Inzamam-ul-Haq remains at the top with 11,701 runs, a record that Babar is on course to challenge if he maintains his exceptional form in the coming years. His ability to score consistently across conditions and against the best bowling attacks has already drawn comparisons with some of the finest batters to have played the game.
Pakistan on the backfoot against New Zealand in ODI Tri-Series final
Pakistan elected to bat first in the final against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. Openers Fakhar Zaman and Babar made a cautious start, but Fakhar fell early for 10, caught by Will Young off Will O’Rourke. Babar looked fluent, scoring 29 off 34 balls with four boundaries and a six, but his dismissal to Nathan Smith at 54/3 put Pakistan on the back foot. Saud Shakeel struggled to accelerate, contributing just 8 off 14 balls before being bowled by Michael Bracewell.
Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman tried to stabilize the innings, but New Zealand’s disciplined bowling, led by Bracewell and O’Rourke, restricted the scoring rate. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 6 from 20 balls, while Salman was on 1 as Pakistan reached 61/3 at the 14-over mark. The scoring rate dipped to 4.35, with the last five overs yielding just 15 runs at a run rate of 3.00.
