/betbarter/media/agency_attachments/3YXcMKaocLoKtpo5Mw2o.png)
/betbarter/media/post_banners/eRmVElisoI18BUBjsvhy.png)
Babar Azam (Image Credit: Twitter)
Babar Azam was a subject of criticism after his poor show with the bat during the Asia Cup 2022. During the tournament, he could only score 68 runs in six games. Recently, former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed quipped that his team Lahore Qalandars never took Azam's wicket early thanks to his low strike rate. However, the Pakistan skipper proved his critics wrong in the second T20I against England.
His side was chasing a huge total of 200 runs to level the series. Three Lions had scored this many runs thanks to Ben Duckett (43), Harry Brook (31), and skipper Moeen Ali's unbeaten 55 off 23 balls. The target was looking tough to chase given the kind of batting the Green Brigade had these days. However, the opening pair, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had other ideas.
The former scored his second T20I hundred during the game and is now the only Pakistani player to do so. This innings helped his side chase down the target rather easily in the end.
Babar Azam started slowly but accelerated well after getting his eye in
The Lahore player started his innings slowly as he scored 29 off 23 balls including five fours. He hit his first six of the innings in the 11th over against Mark Wood. The right-hander deposited the ball over the long-off fence. At this stage, his strike rate improved and bought up another fifty in just 39 balls.
In the 13th over he hit two sixes to prove a point and bring down the required run rate. While he was getting good support from Rizwan, Azam also made sure the boundaries keep coming. In the 16th over, he hit two fours while trying to manipulate the field. The 27-year-old might have lost his wicket in the next over if Sam Curran didn't make a mess of things.
Curran tried to take the catch by back-peddling only to perry it over the fence. In the 18th over, the 2017 Champions Trophy winner scored his second T20I hundred with a single.
This is how Twitter reacted
King @babarazam258 is back . #PakvsEng2022 pic.twitter.com/5ok3b74rMR
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) September 22, 2022
Babar Azam for is temporary class is,,,,,you know the rest💪💪💪.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) September 22, 2022
WHAT A KNOCK!
Take a bow, Babar Azam 🙌#PAKvENG | 📝Scorecard: https://t.co/WHBPS7jrZE pic.twitter.com/H43zxy8rek
— ICC (@ICC) September 22, 2022
Rizwan needs a strong & performing Babar to make it work. Just like how today @babarazam258 came roaring back with a 100 chasing a big total. Well done guys.
Full video: https://t.co/ZWmFyZ0L2g pic.twitter.com/4Ktg3fTyzl
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 22, 2022
King is back? No. King was always here!#KingBabar #RiseAndRise #PAKvENG @babarazam258 @iMRizwanPak pic.twitter.com/RZz1r0huW1
— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) September 22, 2022
Top class batting by @babarazam258 and @iMRizwanPak to win a high scoring match tonight. This is the intent required to chase 199. Really happy for Babar to gain his form against such a top team. Well played boys! @TheRealPCB #PAKvsEng
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) September 22, 2022
If you think Babar and Rizwan have been the problem… you really haven’t been watching the last couple of years !!
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) September 22, 2022
Record-breaking PARTNERSHIP between @babarazam258 and @iMRizwanPak !! Absolutely delightful ✨ This is exactly the Type of Batting order we’re asking for
Congratulations team #Pakistan #BabarAzam𓃵 #PAKvsEng @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/B60kFskLv3— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) September 22, 2022
I think it is time to get rid of Kaptaan @babarazam258 and @iMRizwanPak. Itne selfish players. Agar sahi se khelte to match 15 overs me finish hojana chahye tha. Ye akhri over tak le gaye. Let's make this a movement. Nahi? 😉
Absolutely proud of this amazing Pakistani team. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Q9aKqo3iDm
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 22, 2022