Pakistan skipper Babar Azam on Friday added yet another milestone to his name during the first ODI match against South Africa. The 26-year-old became the fastest batsman to score 13 centuries in the history of ODI cricket.
Chasing a total of 275 runs, the skipper scored a match-winning 103 runs off 104 balls and sailed his team to a three-wicket win over South Africa.
He also surpassed the likes of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and South Africa’s Hashim Amla by taking fewer innings to reach the feat. He scored 13 centuries in just his 78th ODI, also overtook Virat Kohli (86 innings) and Hashim Amla (83 innings).
The visitors were 186/2 and needed just 89 runs in the last 19 overs but the hosts bounced back in the game with pacer Anrich Nortje rattling down their middle order. Nortje took four wickets which gave an interesting turn to the game with Pakistan needing three runs off the last two balls.
The visitors sealed the game and their skipper became the Player of the match for his flabbergasting knock.
The second and third ODI will be played at Wanderer’s and Centurion on April 4 and 7 respectively.