Watch: Azam Khan fell three runs short of a stunning Pakistan Super League century, bowled by Odean Smith having hit his previous two deliveries for six and four.
Azam demonstrated stunning acceleration, hitting 80 off his last 26 balls before being dismissed having been 17 off 15 at one point. Islamabad United plundered 92 off the last five overs of the innings to put up 220-6, having been 77-4 at the halfway stage.
Azam was the star, hitting three consecutive sixes off Mohammad Hasnain but leaving no bowler unspared. Despite him having only 16 with nine overs to go, he was within reach of a special hundred when Faheem Ashraf (17 off six) handed him back the strike for the final three balls of the innings.
Still 13 runs short of three figures, Azam deposited Smith over mid-wicket before slashing the West Indies quick over third man. However, Smith finally ended the assault, hitting Azam’s stumps on the final ball of the innings. He departed with 97 off 42, having hit nine fours and eight sixes, and received congratulations from the bowler and from Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as he walked off.
Watch the final three balls of the Azam Khan innings below:
Epic finale to a sizzling innings 👏 #SabSitarayHumaray l #HBLPSL8 l #QGvIU pic.twitter.com/VVY81pWBiq
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 24, 2023
