SHARJAH: Pakistan’s swashbuckling opener Mohammad Rizwan broke West Indian Chris Gayle’s record for most Twenty20 runs in a calendar year during the World Cup match against Scotland in Sharjah on Sunday.
When Rizwan scored five he overhauled Gayle’s 1,665 runs amassed in 2015 in 36 matches.
Rizwan took 41 matches to break the record. He was dismissed for 15, taking his tally to 1,676.
Rizwan also has 980 runs in 23 Twenty20 international matches in 2021 — which is a record for most runs in a calendar year.
Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik struck brilliant half centuries to lead Pakistan to 189-4 against Scotland in their last T20 World Cup Super 12 game.
Babar scored a 47-ball-66 for his 24th fifty in Twenty20 internationals, and his fourth in five matches, after deciding to bat on a flat Sharjah stadium pitch.
Malik then punished a hapless Scottish attack during his 18-ball 54 not out comprising of six hits over the fence and one boundary, taking 26 off Chris Greaves’s last over.
Babar smashed five boundaries and three sixes to become the tournament’s highest run scorer, passing England’s Jos Buttler’s 240 in five matches with 264 in as many games.
