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- Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan break record of highest partnership in a T20I chase
- Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to score two T20I hundreds, 10 centuries as skipper
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani skipper had help in the form of Muhammad Rizwan, who scored 88 runs by hitting five fours and four sixes.
Azam also hit eleven fours and five sixes to hand Pakistan another 10-wicket victory. Their last one came against India in the T20 World Cup in 2020 when Pakistan chased a 152-run target in Dubai.
On Thursday, Pakistan reached 203/0 after 19.3 overs, with Azam smashing a cover drive boundary in the end to hand his team victory in a befitting manner.
Several records tumbled in Pakistan’s victory against England, as Azam and Rizwan broke their previous record of the highest partnership by a Pakistani pair in a T20I match which was 152 runs.
The opening batters put up a 203-run partnership in their clinical victory over England in Karachi.
Azam also became the Pakistani skipper with the highest number of international centuries as captain. After Thursday’s ton, he has scored 10 international centuries while spearheading the Pakistan team.
England's captain Moeen Ali, right, celebrates scoring runs with batting partner Harry Brook during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 22, 2022. (AP)
Legendary batter Inzamam-ul-Haq held the previous record, with nine centuries to his credit.
Earlier, a late blitz by England skipper Moeen Ali propelled his team to a solid 199 at the end of 20 overs.
England, who were one up in the series, made an impressive start before Shahnawaz Dahani deceived Alex Hales and bowled him out via a cleverly disguised slow delivery.
To Pakistan’s delight, Dahani followed it up with another wicket off the next ball, dismissing Dawid Malan for a golden duck.
Mohammad Nawaz then clean bowled Ben Duckett, who scored an impressive 43 off 22 balls and was looking dangerous before being sent to the pavilion. It was then that England skipper Ali arrived at the crease and started hitting boundaries to the Pakistani bowlers from the word go.
England batters built a steady partnership before Rauf dismissed Harry Brook for 31 off 19 balls. Ali remained unbeaten on 55 from 23 balls, hitting Pakistan’s quickie Hasnain for two sixes off the last two balls to lift England’s spirits.
Rauf remained the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/30 off his four overs while Dahani ended up with 2/37. He would have got a third had Khushdil Shah not dropped Ali earlier in the innings.
England finished on 199/5 off their 20 overs after winning the toss earlier and electing to bat first. The visitors won the first T20 of the series, which also took place in Karachi, by six wickets.