Pakistan’s Babar Azam became the joint fastest player to get to 6000 ODI runs in the Tri-Series final match against New Zealand. The former Pakistan captain shares the top spot with South Africa’s Hashim Amla with both players needing 123 innings to complete the milestone.
Babar reached the landmark after he smashed a boundary off Jacob Duffy in the 3rd ball of the 7th over before going on to make 29 runs. He was then dismissed by Nathan Smith who caught a follow through off Babar’s willow in the 12th over.
Pakistan would ultimately post 242 runs with the help of captain Mohammad Rizwan’s 46 and Salman Agha’s 45 with William ORourke taking 4 wickets for the Kiwis.
A classy way to get to a landmark figure for @babarazam258 ✨#3Nations1Trophy | #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/2iPV9rICxv
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 14, 2025
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in a dress rehearsal for both teams ahead of next week’s opening game of the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan eliminated South Africa from the final with its epic run-chase of 355-4 at the same venue on Wednesday with captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha scoring centuries.
Pakistan brought in fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for his first ODI since his last appearance against Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup in 2023.
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ODI runs completed! @babarazam258 is the joint-fastest to the milestone ✅🥇#3Nations1Trophy | #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/uwwN5FFfrO
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 14, 2025
Ashraf replaced fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who went wicketless in his eight overs for 72 runs during Pakistan’s highest ever successful run-chase in ODIs two days ago.
“The pitch looks a little dry, and we want to put runs on the board,” Rizwan said at the coin toss.“The ODI win in the last game was massive and it has given us the momentum.”
New Zealand, which beat both Pakistan and South Africa at Lahore last week, made two changes and brought in Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy. Smith replaced fast bowler Matt Henry while Duffy came in place of Ben Sears, who has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a hamstring injury.
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“The boys have played here a lot and we had two trainings on similar wickets,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said. “In Pakistan, the wickets are good. You always want to win, but there’s a bigger picture.”
(With agency inputs)
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