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Babar Azam scored an outstanding century Friday to assist raise Pakistan to the top of ODI ranking.© AFP
Babar Azam scored an exceptional century Friday to assist raise Pakistan to the top of the one-day global rankings after a thumping 102-run triumph in the 4th match versus New Zealand in Karachi. Azam smashed a 117-ball 107 and likewise ended up being the fastest batter to reach 5,000 ODI runs, as his group made 334-6 in their 50 overs. His 18th ODI hundred took him past the mark in his 97th innings in the format, beating previous South Africa batter Hashim Amla’s previous record of 101 innings. New Zealand were bowled out for 232 in 43.4 overs with skipper Tom Latham (60 ), Mark Chapman (46) and Daryl Mitchell (34) providing some resistance.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir led Pakistan’s bowling charge with a career-best 4-43 while pacers Mohammad Wasim (3-40) and Haris Rauf (2-37) likewise amazed.
The win offered Pakistan a 4-0 lead in the five-match series and took them to primary for the very first time considering that the International Cricket Council formally acknowledged the rankings in 2005.
Pakistan’s previous greatest ODI ranking was 3rd which they achieved in January 2018 and once again in June 2022.
Azam starred with his 30th load in all global cricket after New Zealand won the toss and put the hosts in to bat at National Stadium.
The 28-year-old beat Amla’s record when he reached 19.
He included 50 for the 2nd wicket with Shan Masood (44 ), 127 for the 4th wicket with Agha Salman (58) and another 41 for the 6th with Iftikhar Ahmed who scored 28.
Azam, who has actually been the primary ODI batter for the last 2 years, struck 10 limits prior to he was captured at deep mid-wicket off debutant Ben Lister in the 48th over.
Azam is the 14th Pakistani to score 5,000 or more runs in ODI cricket, with previous captain Inzamam-ul-Haq top of the list with 11,701.
He is likewise the fastest to 18 ODI hundreds, beating Amla’s record of 102 innings.
Salman cracked in with 2 6s and 4 fours in his 46-ball knock prior to being captured and bowled by pacer Matt Henry who ended up with 3-65.
Shaheen Shah Afridi struck 3 6s and a 4 in his seven-ball 23 not out as Pakistan ransacked 94 runs in the last 10 overs.
(This story has actually not been modified by NDTV personnel and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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