Babar Azam returns to pavilion after getting out. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)
Babar Azam scored 45 runs from as many balls for the Stallions in the fourth match of the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup in Faislabad against Mohammad Rizwan’s Markhors.
Star Pakistani batter and T20 captain Babar Azam is playing for Stallions in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup these days, the matches of which are taking place in Faislabad. The 29-year-old right-handed batter took the field for Mohammad Haris’s side against Mohammad Rizwan’s Markhors in match No. 4 on Sunday (September 15) and scored 45 runs from as many balls after coming out to bat at No. 3.
During his stay at the crease, he hammered eight fours, five of which came in one over bowled by pacer Shahnawaz Dahani. Babar was the fourth Stallions batter to get out in the match.
Just Cannot stop watching this again & again. Don’t think I would be able to sleep tonight. I just cannot understad, how Babar made it look so easy. pic.twitter.com/8YqKMGcPdX— Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) September 15, 2024
After he was sent back to the pavilion on the first ball of the 16th over bowled by Zahid Mahmood, several videos of fans leaving the stadium went viral on the internet.
Babar, who is one of the best batters of present times, enjoys a huge popularity in Pakistan.
He has impressed with his batting performances in the recent matches after facing a lot of criticism for poor batting in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which Pakistan lost 0-2.
Despite Babar’s 45, Stallions could only manage to score 105 runs in 23.4 overs and went on to lose the match by 126 runs. For Markhors, Zahid picked up five wickets for 18 runs in 4.4 overs, and three Stallions batters were sent back to the pavilion by Salman Agha.
Earlier in the first half of the match, Markhors rode on Agha’s 51 and Ifitkhar Ahmed’s 60 to post a total of 231 runs on the board. Captain Rizwan also made a contribution of 33 runs from 39 balls.
The win over Stallions was Markhors second win in as many matches played so far. In the tournament opener, they had defeated the Panthers by 160 runs. The table-toppers will next face Saud Shakeel’s Dolphins in the third match on Tuesday (September 17). On the other hand, second-placed Stallions will also face the same opponents on Thursday (September 19).
Pak to face England in October
After the conclusion of the ongoing tournament, Pakistan will face England in a three-match Test series at home, which is set to start on October 7 in Multan.