Overview
- Pakistan thumped South Africa by nine wickets in Lahore to level the three-match T20I series 1-1, with the decider scheduled for Saturday.
- Needing nine to take the lead, Babar reached the mark with a single off Donovan Ferreira in the 12th over and finished unbeaten on 11.
- His career tally now stands at 4,234 runs in 130 T20Is with 36 fifties and three centuries, moving past Rohit Sharma’s 4,231 after the Indian star’s T20I retirement last year.
- Pakistan bowled South Africa out for 110, led by Faheem Ashraf’s 4-23 and Salman Mirza’s 3-14, before Saim Ayub sealed the chase with 71 not out off 38 balls.
- The milestone follows Babar’s recall after nearly a year out of T20Is and renews debate over his comparatively lower strike rate and role in Pakistan’s plans.