T20 World Cup 2022: Babar Azam Becomes 2nd Batter To Score 2000 Runs As Captain In T20Is After Aaron Finch

Babar Azam, on Wednesday, November 9, became only the second batter after Aaron Finch to score 2000 runs as skipper in T20Is. The 28-year-old accomplished the milestone in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final match against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Pakistan emerged victors in the match thanks to Babar Azam’s 53 and Mohammad Rizwan’s 57 as the duo added 105 runs for the opening wicket in the chase of 153 runs. Mohammad Haris also made 30 runs in quick time as Pakistan won by 7 wickets and booked their place in the final, to be played in Melbourne on Sunday, November 13.

The Men in Green were at advantage as the semi-final was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on a surface that suited the Pakistani team. Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat first. Daryl Mitchell made 53* and Kane Williamson himself made 46 as Pakistani bowlers kept the pressure on the batters with Shaheen Afridi taking 2/24.

Babar was in good form as he hit his first half-century in this ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 as he had the rub of the green, given that New Zealand keeper Devon Conway dropped him in the slips in the very first over of Pakistan’s run-chase.

From there on, Babar started playing his shots without much fuss. He got to his half-century off 38 balls and returned to form.

Babar Azam joins Aaron Finch as only the second captain in T20Is to make 2000 runs in the format

A couple of months ago, Australia’s Aaron Finch, who retired from ODIs earlier this year, had become the first batter to touch the 2000-run mark in T20Is. He did it in the three-match T20I series against Rohit Sharma’s India, which Australia lost 1-2 after initially winning the opening game.

Now Babar Azam has also joined him in the club during his match-winning knock against New Zealand in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022.

Also Read: PAK vs NZ: “I Would Like To Face…”- Matthew Hayden Picks Another Finalist After Pakistan’s Triumph