Pakistan’s cricket sensation, Babar Azam, once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the world. His performance in the Champions Cup, where he represented the Stallions against the Markhors, was nothing short of brilliant.
Babar Azam stepped up to the crease with the Stallions at a precarious position, needing to build momentum to chase the Markhors’ target of 232 runs.
The turning point came in the 8th over when Azam faced the fiery pace of Shahnawaz Dahani. Azam immediately showed his class, sending the second ball of the over to the boundary with a crisp stroke.
Not content with just one boundary, he followed it up with another elegant shot through the third slip, collecting four more runs on the very next delivery.
Azam was in full control, dismantling Dahani’s line and length with ease. The rest of the over saw him dispatch three more consecutive boundaries, accumulating a staggering 20 runs from just one over. This blitz transformed the Stallions’ position, catapulting their score from 27 after seven overs to 47 by the end of the 8th over.
Despite his commanding display, Babar’s innings came to an unfortunate end in the 16th over. Zahid Mahmood, the leg-spinner for the Markhors, managed to get the prized wicket of Azam, who was dismissed after scoring a quick 45 off 44 deliveries. His dismissal left the Stallions at 85 for four, still with a challenging task ahead in their pursuit of 232 runs.
Earlier in the day, the Markhors were restricted to a total of 231 runs, thanks to some brilliant bowling performances from Jahandad Khan and Mehran Mumtaz. Iftikhar Ahmed and Salman Agha were the standout performers for the Markhors, contributing 60 and 51 runs, respectively.
However, Jahandad Khan’s four-wicket haul and Mumtaz’s three wickets ensured the Markhors couldn’t build a more formidable total.
Babar Azam’s innings, though cut short, was a testament to his exceptional talent, providing a key highlight in an intense contest during the Champions Cup.
