Watch: Babar Azam unleashed a picture-perfect straight drive off Cameron Green during his fifty against Australia in the first ODI at Lahore, which also saw him become the second fastest to 4,000 men’s ODI runs.

In a steady 72-ball 57 that laid the platform for the first half of Pakistan’s pursuit of 314, Babar hit six boundaries, but none were as picturesque as the straight drive off Cameron Green off the second ball of the ninth over. Standing tall, Babar punched Green’s 136.7kph offering down the ground, the pace of the stroke beating the fielders at mid-off and mid-on on its way to the fence.

During his 18th ODI fifty, Babar also went past the milestone of 4,000 men’s ODI runs, becoming the second fastest to the tally after South Africa’s Hashim Amla. Babar took 82 innings to reach the milestone, one more than what Amla managed.

Watch the Babar straight drive here:

So smooth! #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/88MvdnXut0

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 29, 2022