Pakistan Super League 2023

Watch: ‘Gorgeous, Babar at his best’ – Babar Azam caresses glorious cover drive en route to sixth PSL 2023 fifty

by Wisden Staff March 16, 2023 - 4:54pm 3 minute read

Watch: Babar Azam timed a gorgeous cover drive to perfection off Hasan Ali in the Pakistan Super League today (March 16) as he scored another half-century, his sixth of this year’s competition.

After a fast start for Peshawar Zalmi where they hit six fours in the first two overs of their innings against Islamabad United, Babar unfurled the magnificent shot in the fourth over of Peshawar’s innings. Ali had conceded five wides, four leg byes and a single off his first over by that point, with Babar struggling to get the quick away. Staying back in his crease to a shorter delivery, Babar followed the ball as it came into him, keeping upright as he pushed the ball into the off-side.

Despite seeming to put next to no power on the shot, the ball dissected the two fielders and ran away to the boundary, easily outstripping the fielders in its wake.

The shot prompted Mark Butcher to exclaim on commentary: “Oh gorgeous. So, so good, Babar at his best.”

The Pakistan captain went on to register another half-century, his fourth score of over fifty in consecutive matches. It’s also his sixth fifty of the 2023 PSL, more than any other batter. He was eventually dismissed by Shadab Khan for 64 off 39 balls.

Peshawar Zalmis scored 183-8 off their 20 overs, Mohammad Haris scoring a quick-fire 34 off 17. The winner of the match will progress to the second Eliminator, whereas the loser will be out of the competition.