Karachi: Pakistan captain Babar Azam became the quickest batsman to reach 5,000 runs in one-day internationals on Friday. Boosting his team to 334-6 in the fourth match against New Zealand in Karachi.
The 28-year-old surpassed Hashim Amla’s record with 107 runs off 117 balls for his 18th ODI century at National Stadium.
Earlier Azam reached 19 during his 97th innings in 99 one-day internationals. He surpassed 5,000 runs, surpassing Amla’s record of 101 innings in 104 games.
Azam contributed 50 runs for the second wicket with Shan Masood (44), 127 runs for the fourth wicket with Agha Salman (58), and 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (28).
He has ranked first by the International Cricket Council for the past two years. Hit ten boundaries before caught at deep mid-wicket in the 48th over off the debutant Ben Lister.
Azam is the fourteenth Pakistani to score 5,000 or more runs in ODI cricket. With former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 11,701 runs at the top of the list.
Azam is also the quickest player to 18 ODI hundreds, surpassing Amla’s record of 102 innings.
Salman’s 46-ball innings included two sixes and four fours before he was caught and bowled by pacer Matt Henry, who finished with 3-65.
Shaheen Shah Afridi hit three sixes and a boundary for 23 not out off seven balls as Pakistan amassed 94 runs in the final ten overs.
Pakistan has a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
