Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter
Mohammad Rizwan once again proved his dexterity in the recently concluded third T20I against
West Indies. In a massive chase of 208, Rizwan, along with skipper
Babar Azam formed a match-winning partnership of 158 runs for the opening wicket
to help Pakistan whitewash the visitors in the T20I leg in Karachi on Thursday.
Babar scored 79 off 53 balls, while Rizwan made 87 from just 45 deliveries, including 13 boundaries. It was Rizwan’s 18th half-century in the format as he scripted history after crossing the 2000-run benchmark in a calendar year in T20Is. He is the first batter in history to achieve such a milestone in the shortest format.
Most T20 runs in a calendar year: - 2036 – Mohammad Rizwan in 2021*
- 1779 – Babar Azam in 2021*
- 1665 – Chris Gayle in 2015
- 1614 – Virat Kohli in 2016
- 1607 – Babar Azam in 2019
Earlier,
Nicholas Pooran shined with the bat to help Windies post a humungous 207/3 on the board in their allotted 20 overs. The left-handed batter smashed a quickfire 64 off 37 balls with the help of eight boundaries, including 6 sixes.
Apart from the West Indies skipper, openers
Brandon King and
Shamarh Brooks also displayed top-quality batting, scoring 49 each to give the tourists a flying start. For the hosts,
Shahnawaz Dahani was the most impressive bowler. In a massive run-fest, Dhani only conceded 23 runs in his quota of 4 overs and picked up one wicket.
Highest successful chase by Pakistan: - 208 vs West Indies, Karachi 2021*
- 205 vs South Africa, Centurion 2021
- 189 vs South Africa, Johannesburg 2021
- 187 vs Australia, Harare 2018
“We are preparing for the T20 World Cup in Australia, and the team is giving 100 per cent. The way Rizwan has played throughout the year and the way he has improved his batting – all the youngsters should look at him and take him as a role model,” said Babar after the match.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
#PAKvWI Very impressive record chase tonight.Self belief & calmness was at the heart of that feat!Great year for Rizwan & he doesn’t have a bad partner in Babar too. Pity about the rescheduling of the ODI series but we will have a full fledged fit WI team for that June encounter.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja)
December 16, 2021
Mohammad Rizwan has become the first ever batter to score 2000 runs in a calendar year in T20s
#PAKvWI #Cricket pic.twitter.com/bzV6KJaMMI — Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
December 16, 2021
Run Machine!!
@iMRizwanPak Great going brother ?
https://t.co/KsrnP3oAjP — Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90)
December 16, 2021
Great chase by Pakistan today! Well done Babar, Rizwan and the entire team. Thank you West Indies for putting on a real show despite limited resources. Great to see a good crowd at the National Stadium.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial)
December 16, 2021
WINNERS! ????
pic.twitter.com/jpfvPpTuUw — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB)
December 16, 2021
Mohammed Rizwan: the first batter to score 2000+ runs in T20’s in a calendar year. 2021 has been a year of brilliance for him????????.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
December 16, 2021
Dhani Dhani Dhani….
@ShahnawazDahani Well done young man. Enjoyed watching u bowl with aggression,speed & accuracy
. Keep enjoying the highest stage & keep entertaining all of us. Stay blessed
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22)
December 16, 2021
One more in the collection, Alhumdulillah. ?
Special mention to West Indies team for making this tour possible in difficult times. Our whole nation graciously thank you. ??
pic.twitter.com/5ZkSB84kXF — Babar Azam (@babarazam258)
December 16, 2021
I don't know how much money the PCB, the Multan Sultans and now Sussex are paying Mohammad Rizwan next season…but whatever it is…it's a bargain. An astonishingly consistent year. The man is the Don Bradman of T20 Cricket.
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz)
December 16, 2021
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